Video

Traffic Pollution Can Inscreas Your Blood Pressure

A Texas Playground Caters Especially to Special Needs Children

BPA in Plastics May be Linked to Asthma

Communication Is Important When It Comes to Prostate Cancer

The Number of Home Births Has Gone Up

Which American Couples Are More Likely to Stay Together?

Workplace Wellness Can Help Reduce the Risk for Heart Problems

Some Parents May Hasten Death for Terminally Ill Children

Fitness Academics

Secondhand Smoke Increases Risk for Heart Disease in Kids

Toddlers Don't Learn Vocabulary From TV

Despite Worries, Most Parents Vaccinate Their Kids Anyway

Food Allergies Can Be Treated With the Allergen Foods

Signs of Heart Disease Could Be As Early as 3 in Obese Kids

The Number of Women Having Strokes is Rising

Complete Horse Genome Sequence Revealed

Posted on 11/05/2009, 14:00
By -- Robert Preidt

Findings could aid understanding of human diseases, scientists say

THURSDAY, Nov. 5 (HealthDay News) -- The genome of the domestic horse has been sequenced, an accomplishment that will improve the breeding of horses and may help studies of human health, according to an international team of researchers.

"Having access to multiple genome sequences makes it easier to understand all genomes, including our own. By looking at the horse genome, we can better understand human biology and human diseases," James Murray, a professor of animal science at the University of California, Davis, said in a news release. He has worked on the Horse Genome Project since it began in 1995.

More than 90 hereditary conditions affect both humans and horses, such as infertility, inflammatory diseases and muscle disorders. By studying the horse genome, it may be possible to increase understanding of these diseases in humans, Murray noted.

The researchers found that the horse genome is larger than the dog genome and smaller than the human and cow genomes. They also found that 17 out of 32 (53 percent) of horse chromosome pairs are composed of material from a single human chromosome, compared with 29 percent of dog chromosome pairs. This means that fewer chromosome rearrangements separate humans from horses than separate humans from dogs.

The scientists also found an evolutionary new centromere on horse chromosome 11. Centromeres allow movement of chromosomes when cells divide, which ensures normal distribution of all genetic material to each daughter cell. The newly identified centromere in the horse may help improve understanding about how centromeres function, the researchers pointed out.

The sequencing project findings will be unveiled in the Nov. 6 issue of Science.

More information

The U.S. National Human Genome Research Institute has more about sequencing a genome.

SOURCE: University of California-Davis, news release, Nov. 5, 2009

More news in General...

BigHealthTree.com Disclaimer

Bighealthtree.com Does Not Provide Medical Advice. This site, including the above information, is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or health advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified health or medical professional before starting any new treatment, changing existing treatment, or altering your current exercise and/or diet program. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911 (or the emergency services in your area) or your doctor immediately.

Rating: 3.0 / 5 (5 votes)