Organization of the Human Genome, Chromosomes, and Genes

Abstract

DNA is the chemical basis of heredity. Within its sequence is the information necessary for cells to live, grow, differentiate, and replicate. It is the DNA that provides both consistency (all humans generally look the same) and variability (height, eye, and hair color) among organisms. While the human genome is extremely polymorphic and the majority of deviations in DNA sequence are thought to be benign, variations in its sequence can and do lead to genetic disorders. Although we currently understand the roles of only a small percentage of the total number of genes, great strides are being made toward elucidating the physical and molecular structure and function of the human genome. Through this knowledge we can more fully appreciate the complex physiology of the human organism.