The Human Genome in Health and Disease

The human genome refers to the complete set of nucleic acid sequences in humans. It is encoded as DNA in the 23 chromosome pairs. The human genome is over 3 billion base pairs long. Any abnormality in the structure or function of these genes or chromosomes can result in a genetic disorder. Knockouts and mutations in specific genes can have severe consequences in terms of gene function and gene expression. Genetic diseases may occur due to a single gene or due to multiple genes. Over 6000 diseases in humans can be attributed to single-gene defects. When multiple genes contribute to a genetic disorder, such as in the case of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, asthma or autoimmune diseases, it is difficult to study and treat them. A number of diseases are also related to large-scale genomic abnormalities. Nondisjunction of entire chromosomes can lead to disorders such as Turner Syndrome and Down syndrome. This book contains some path-breaking studies on the human genome and its relevance to health care. The topics included in this book on the human genome are of utmost significance and bound to provide incredible insights to readers. It is a vital tool for all researching and studying this field.