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Scientists Map Another Chromosome - Holds Promise for Alzheimer's
An international group of scientists has mapped the longest human chromosome to date, chromosome 14, in its entirety.
The chromosome, the fourth to be decoded, contains key genes 
linked to the functioning of the immune system, as well as genes linked to over 60 different diseases. In all, scientists had to decode 1050 genes, or a total of around 87 million pairs of chemicals called bases.
The chromosome has already been identified in previous studies with a very wide range of diseases, including a form of spastic paraplegia that strikes young children; missing teeth, a condition called oligodontia; several kinds of vision and hearing impairments; and early onset Alzheimer's, the term for Alzheimer's disease that occurs before 60 and even among people in their 30s.
CNN story
The consortium, led by Roland Heilig and Jean Weissenbach of the French gene research centre Genoscope, say chromosome 14 has two clusters of genes which are vital for the functioning of the immune system, as well as more than 60 disease genes.
10:30:28 AM 
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