What is in Chromosome 4?
Humans normally have 46 chromosomes in each cell, divided into 23 pairs. Two copies of chromosome 4, one copy inherited from each parent, form one of the pairs. Chromosome 4 spans more than 191 million DNA building blocks (base pairs) and represents more than 6 percent of the total DNA in cells.
Identifying genes on each chromosome is an active area of genetic research. Because researchers use different approaches to predict the number of genes on each chromosome, the estimated number of genes varies. Chromosome 4 likely contains between 1,300 and 1,600 genes. These genes perform a variety of different roles in the body.
Genes on chromosome 4 are among the estimated 20,000 to 25,000 total genes in the human genome.
How are changes in chromosome 4 related to health conditions?
Many genetic conditions are related to changes in particular genes on chromosome 4. This list of disorders associated with genes on chromosome 4 provides links to additional information.