Hotspots of Genetic Rearrangement

Researchers have zoomed in on mouse chromosomes to map hotspots of genetic recombination -- sites where DNA breaks and reforms to shuffle genes. The findings of the scientists at the National Institutes of Health and Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USU) have the potential to improve the detection of genes linked to disease and to help understand the root causes of genetic abnormalities.

*In Green, the sperm precurser shows the chromosomes and in red where the hot spots are where genetic recombination is likely to occur, genetic rearrangement is why each sperm cell is its own unique cell.

The researchers also hope to pinpoint where, how and why abnormalities in the number of chromosomes can occur. Such as Down syndrome which is an extra copy of the chromosome 21. They are also interested in what other birth defects are contributed and cause of how or why recombination can cause these affects. 

"Hotspots are the starting point for the process that ensures that every person is unique. These hotspots facilitate the adaptation of populations to environmental influences through evolution. Our findings will allow us to explore things like how environment and genetic background affect the recombination landscape." - R. Daniel Camerini-Otero, M.D., Ph.D of the  NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

While Genetic Recombination assures diversity and success of a species, errors within in these hotspots can have adverse affects and being able to map, trace and understand the mechanisms to why these things happen is key to eventually treat or prevent those who suffer from genetic disorders as a result of how their genes broke apart and came back together. I think progress in this study will bring much needed insight. I feel that each branch of genetics builds on itself and overlapps and with the synergy of all the genetics related feilds we can see great improvements in the quality of life for us all.