2010 Science News of the Year: Genes & Cells
By Science News
Credit: © Joe McNally/reconstruction by Kennis and Kennis
Gene sequencing for all, even Neandertals
An unprecedented picture of life’s diversity is emerging as researchers publish the full genetic instruction books of a growing list of species — including one that has been extinct for more than 30,000 years.
A project sequencing Neandertal DNA harvested from bones reveals evidence of prehistoric interbreeding between humans and Neandertals (SN: 6/5/10, p. 5). As for modern humans, scientists have compiled complete genetic profiles of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and a Bushman tribal elder named !Gubi (SN: 3/13/10, p. 16). Full genomes are also available for the first time for people of African-American, Mexican-American (SN: 7/3/10, p. 13), Japanese and Irish descent.
In addition, the pilot phase of the 1000 Genomes project has unveiled millions of genetic variants in about 800 people of several different ethnic origins (SN: 11/20/10, p. 14). This snapshot reveals that the average person carries defective copies of 250 to 300 genes, plus about 75 DNA variants associated with disease. Similar advances in DNA sequencing are also allowing researchers to decode the genomes of more species (See March of genomes).