Genome Structure and Disease

You are now familiar with how the genome is organized in human cells. Why do we care about genome structure? Understanding genome structure can help researchers understand genome function. Genes that are physically close together are more likely to interact with each other. Genes that are physically apart are less likely to interact. The function of a gene can help uncover the functions of nearby genes.

Problems with how an individual’s genome is structured can result in disease. The following activity will look at chromosome mutations and their consequences.

Courtesy: National Human Genome Research Institute