The Y chromosome, which is responsible for male reproductive development, has been fully mapped out by a team of researchers led by the National Human Genome Research Institute. This mapping was done using advanced sequencing technologies to improve DNA sequencing accuracy for the Y chromosome. The results of the study, published in Nature, could help identify certain genetic disorders and uncover the genetic roots of others.
Mapping DNA is not a straightforward process as DNA gets chopped up when extracted from cells and sequencing equipment can only handle small bits of DNA at a time. Researchers rely on special software to piece the fragments together, similar to solving a puzzle. A reference genome, which is a pre-assembled genome, serves as a guide for sequencing and matching the genetic code.
Last year, the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) consortium generated a complete reference genome using new sequencing technologies, but it did not include the Y chromosome. In this new study, the T2T consortium built upon the work of the Genome in a Bottle (GIAB) consortium, which produces test materials for evaluating sequencing technologies. The researchers used cutting-edge sequencing technologies and analysis tools to assemble the Y chromosome puzzle pieces and spell out the GIAB Y chromosome.
Comparing the new complete Y chromosome sequence, called T2T-Y, with the widely used reference genome’s Y chromosome showed significant improvements in sequencing outcomes. This new reference could help identify and diagnose genetic conditions related to the Y chromosome and also shed light on new genes and their functions. The researchers at the GIAB have developed a new benchmark based on the T2T-assembled X and Y chromosomes to assess the potential impact of the new reference material.
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