Major Discovery Finds People Are Less Similar to Each Other

Posted on November 23, 2006

The Independent is reporting on a major breakthrough in the study of the human genome. People are now thought to carry multiple copies of the same gene which could great increase the variation in the genetic makeup from person to person.

Scientists have discovered a dramatic variation in the genetic make-up of humans that could lead to a fundamental reappraisal of what causes incurable diseases and could provide a greater understanding of mankind.
The discovery has astonished scientists studying the human genome - the genetic recipe of man. Until now it was believed the variation between people was due largely to differences in the sequences of the individual " letters" of the genome.
It now appears much of the variation is explained instead by people having multiple copies of some key genes that make up the human genome.

The findings mean people could be much more different than previously thought which probably explains why drugs that do well for some people do not work at all for others or even make them sicker. Scientists still don't know many multiples of a gene a person may carry.

The findings mean that instead of humanity being 99.9 per cent identical, as previously believed, we are at least 10 times more different between one another than once thought - which could explain why some people are prone to serious diseases.
The studies published today have found that instead of having just two copies of each gene - one from each parent - people can carry many copies, but just how many can vary between one person and the next.

The article says it means we are only 96% similar to the chimpanzee instead of 99% as was previously thought. The article also includes a helpful FAQ that includes this information about how we may be only 99% similar to other humans instead of 99.9% as was previously thought. That is a considerable difference.

What have scientists discovered today?
They have found that each of us is more different genetically than we previously believed. Instead of being 99.9 per cent identical, it may turn out to be more like 99 per cent identical - enough of a difference to explain many variations in human traits. Instead of having just two copies of every gene - one from each parent - we have some genes that are multiplied several times. Furthermore these "multiple copy numbers" differ from one person to another, which could explain human physical and even mental variation.

The scientists involved in the amazing discovery are hopeful it will eventually lead to breakthroughs in treating different diseases.

GENOME