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SINGAPORE: A project led by a scientist at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and a scientist from Yale University have discovered a gene enhancer HACNS1, which provides significant insights into the genetic differences between humans and chimpanzees.
The scientists said this is critical as it gives a more complete molecular understanding of the human body.
The discovery was published in Science on September 5.
Dr Shyam Prabhakar of GIS and Assistant Professor Dr James P. Noonan said HACNS1 may be responsible for the unique human thumb and musculo-skeletal modifications that allow humans to walk on two legs.
"This is just the first step - we need to characterize HACNS1 in more detail, and also test the hundreds of other HACNSs we have identified in the genome to figure out what role, if any, they play in making us human," says Dr Prabhakar.
Dr Noonan added that by understanding at a molecular level, what it means to be human, such studies could help fill the gaps between animal experiments and human clinical trials.
This could then increase understanding of human diseases and their treatments.
The study was done in collaboration with Dr Edward M Rubin's group at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the US. - CNA/vm
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