We Are All Mutants: Measurement Of Mutation Rate In Humans By Direct Sequencing
Tuesday, September 1, 2009 - 09:28
in Biology & Nature
Researchers have calculated a general rate of one mutation in each 15 to 30 million DNA letters in humans. Using next-generation sequencing, researchers sequenced part of the Y chromosome from two distant male-line relatives. Despite 13 generations of separation -- with a common male ancestor 200 years ago -- they found only four letters that differed. Mutation is the ultimate source of human genetic variation and has implications for both evolutionary and disease genetics.