Overview of the human genome

Abstract

The human genome is composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) organized into 23 pairs of chromosomes in the nucleus of human cells, as well as the small DNA found inside individual mitochondria. Complete sequencing of the 3 billion base pairs that make up the human genome has made available a deluge of information that has enhanced our understanding of evolution, physiology, causality of disease, and association between heredity and environment in humans. This chapter discusses discoveries in genetics that spawned the field of human genomics. It further highlights the role of human genome in disease susceptibility, as well as its prospects for the future of healthcare.