Each of us carries up to 100 of the genes responsible for diseases such as cancer and diabetes, a study has found. And we have around 300 genes that are so flawed they don't work at all.
Hundreds of researchers from around the world have combined forces to analyze the tiny genetic differences between individuals. Results from the pilot phase of the research, which involved reading the DNA of more than 800 volunteers from around the world, were published in the journals Nature and Science.
They show that, on average, each individual has between 250 and 300 genes that are so flawed they don't work at all. Each of us also has around 75 to 100 genes that are known to have links to inherited diseases.
In many cases, they will not cause any problems, with people carrying the disease but not becoming ill themselves. But learning more about how they, and other flaws, trigger disease could lead to new drugs, genetic tests and even ways of preventing ill health.
Scientists have also started to read parts of the human blueprint that were inaccessible until now. Some of these "untouchable genes" could help explain why the human brain is so much more complex than the apes' version.
英国《每日邮报》28日报道：一项研究发现，我们每个人身上都携带有100多个同诸如癌症以及糖尿病等疾病相关的基因。此外，科学家还发现人们身上有300多个缺陷基因，对人类没有任何作用。
日前来自世界各地的数百位研究人员群策群力，分析个体间的基因差异。前期研究为检测世界各地800名志愿者的DNA，研究结果已于近日被刊登在《自然科学》杂志上。
文中写道，普遍来说，每个个体携带有250个到300个严重缺陷基因，这些基因完全无法“工作”。此外，人们身上还有75个到100个基因同遗传性疾病相关。
在大多数情况下，这些致病基因不会产生任何问题，很多人只是携带着疾病却不会真正生病。但是通过对致病以及缺陷基因如何诱发疾病深入研究，科学家们可以研制出新型药物、基因测试方法，甚至可以解决这种“带病却健康着”的生存状况。
据了解，科学家也已经开始着手部分难以接触到的基因的解析工作。而其中一些基因或可回答为何人类大脑远比猿类大脑复杂。