Human genome's regulatory areas are mapped

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Feb. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. and Spanish scientists say they've created a map of the human genome's regulatory areas in a step that might yield new facts about common illnesses.

The scientists said their work presents the first high-resolution atlas of the regulatory elements of the most studied cell types for treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes.

Together with colleagues at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have generated a complete map of the areas of the genome that control which genes are turned "on" or "off." The scientists said their achievement opens new avenues for understanding the genetic basis not only of type 2 diabetes, but other common illnesses as well.

"Most of the human genome is uncharted territory -- entire stretches of sequence with no clear function or purpose," said Associate Professor Jason Lieb, one of the study's senior authors. "In fact, the majority of the DNA sequences associated with disease found thus far reside in the middle of nowhere. Here we have developed a map that can guide scientists to regions of the genome that do appear to be functionally relevant, instead of a dead end."

The research appears in the early online edition of the journal Nature Genetics.