Research Team Publishes World's First Southern African Genome and Multiple Exomes using Technology from 454 Life Sciences And Roche NimbleGen, Inc

BRANFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a study published online today in Nature, a team of researchers from Penn State University and the University New South Wales present the complete genome sequences of an indigenous hunter-gatherer from the Kalahari Desert and a Bantu from southern Africa, along with three additional whole exome sequences of Kalahari hunter-gatherers. The four hunter-gatherer participants were chosen for their linguistic group, geographical location and Y-chromosome haplotype while the Bantu individual is the revered Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. The landmark study represents the first of its kind to analyze whole genome and exome sequence data from this genetically distinct population, which is thought to be the oldest known lineage of modern day humans. The findings, which include over 13,000 novel SNPs, provide new insights into human population diversity and may enable the future development of drugs that benefit this ethnic group.