For years it was assumed that tiny differences in our genetic make-up gave us our individual traits. Now it seems that those characteristics are caused by rearrangements of large chunks of our DNA — variations that could be the key to understanding disease. Erika Check investigates.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Subjects
References
Buckland, P. R. Ann. Med. 35, 308–315 (2003).
Sebat, J. et al. Science 305, 525–528 (2004).
Iafrate, A. J. et al. Nature Genet. 36, 949–951 (2004).
Tuzun, E. et al. Nature Genet. 37, 727–732 (2005).
Gonzalez, E. et al. Science 307, 1434–1440 (2005).
Check, E. Nature 435, 252–253 (2005).
Cheng, Z. et al. Nature 437, 88–93 (2005).
Sharp, A. J. et al. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 77, 78–88 (2005).
Stefansson, H. et al. Nature Genet. 37, 129–137 (2005).
Fortna, A. et al. PLoS Biol. 2, E207 (2004).
Newman, T. L. et al. Genome Res. 15, 1344–1356 (2005).
Feuk, L. et al. PLoS Genet. preprint No. 2005, e56 doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0010056.eor (2005).
Author information
Author notes
Erika Check is Nature's Washington biomedical correspondent.
- Erika Check
Related links
Related links
Related links in Nature Research
Large genomic differences explain our little quirks
Nature Reviews Genetics Web Focus on repeat instability
Related external links
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Check, E. Patchwork people. Nature 437, 1084–1086 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/4371084a
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/4371084a