2009 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript

This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2009. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.

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Why are humans so similar to everything? I heard it was because we are a young species. Is that true?
     Joe McInerney, M.S.: I was the executive director of NCHPEG, where he developed educational materials in human genetics and genetic medicine for a broad range of health professionals. Human beings are similar to all other living things because we are related to all other living things through evolution. Humans are very similar to one another genetically in part because Homo sapiens is, indeed, a relatively young species.
Creative and Performing Arts High School in PA (9th grade student)

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