Using a new technique that makes it easier to precisely measure the number of chromosomes in ancient DNA, researchers have identified the earliest known cases of two genetic disorders.
Ancient DNA can provide us with useful insights into our ancestors, but unfortunately, samples can degrade or become contaminated over time, making it more difficult to analyze. One of the problem areas is in detecting differences in the number of chromosomes, such as extra or missing copies – this is known as aneuploidy.
To combat this, the research team developed a new computational method to detect more variation when counting the number of chromosomes, particularly the X and Y (also known as the sex chromosomes) in a human genome. Most human cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes, including the sex chromosomes. Females usually have two Xs (XX), whilst males have an X and a Y (XY). READ MORE...
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