It is the largest mapping that has been done so far of the genetic mass of mammals, according to Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, one of the researchers who led the project.
The results provide knowledge about how the genetic mass of both humans and other mammals works and has developed during evolution.
“This is the first time we can understand more in depth how different mammals have evolved, for example why some have a good sense of smell or hibernate in the winter,” says Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, who is a professor of comparative genomics at Uppsala University and also active at the Broad Institute in the U.S.
“But what I find most exciting is that you can look at the human disease genes and see which ones are important for the development of, for example, schizophrenia and diabetes,” she continues.
Previously unknown parts
The mapping has been done by over 30 research groups in different countries and led by Uppsala University and the Broad Institute.
The genetic mass of us humans contains approximately 20,000 genes that make up the “recipe” for the body’s proteins. Now scientists have been able to identify more than three million other kinds of parts in our genome called ‘regulatory elements’, which contain instructions for where, when and how the proteins should be made.
Copies of these were previously unknown.
“This information can now be used by other researchers to understand the genetic basis of various diseases,” says Kerstin Lindblad-Toh.
The researchers have already used the results to investigate medulloblastoma, a malignant form of heart tumor in children, and found a series of mutations. It is something that, in the long run, it is hoped can lead to better diagnostics and treatment.
Separated before the asteroid
The results are published in the form of eleven scientific articles in the journal Science.
One of the studies shows that the mammal species had begun to differentiate genetically even before the Earth was hit by the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.
The results can also provide clues about which animals are close to extinction by showing how much variation they have in their genetic mass, according to the researchers. This is because greater variation provides better conditions for survival.