Mexican genome project sequences 1,481 individuals to map regional genetic variants
Researchers sequenced 1,481 whole genomes from Mexican volunteers under the oriGen Project, cataloging over 47.2 million single nucleotide variants and 8.1 million short indels. Nearly 3 million non-singleton short variants were absent from dbSNP and the Mexico City Prospective Study. Homozygous deletions in the RHD gene appeared in 3.1% of participants overall, but that rate fell to 0.6% among those with high Mexican-Indigenous American ancestry. Additionally, 10% of the volunteers carry a heterozygous loss-of-function variant in CYP2D6, an enzyme that metabolizes tamoxifen and painkillers.
The dataset helps address the underrepresentation of Mexican populations in genomic research by providing population-specific genetic data.
Written by the Genomes desk from the primary source cited and linked above and checked against it. Research use only; not medical advice. Corrections: [email protected].