chromosome10

Chromosome 10 is one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in humans, containing approximately 135 million base pairs that represent about 4% of the total DNA in cells. It is the second-largest human chromosome after chromosome 1 and plays a critical role in various biological processes, including development, disease susceptibility, and gene expression.

The short arm (p arm) and long arm (q arm) of chromosome 10 are separated by the centromere, a constricted region essential for chromosome segregation during cell division. The p arm is relatively small, while the q arm is significantly longer. Genes on chromosome 10 encode proteins involved in diverse functions, such as metabolism, immune response, and neural signaling.

Several genes of medical importance are located on chromosome 10, including *PTEN*, a tumor suppressor gene associated with cancer development, particularly in Cowden syndrome and glioblastoma. Other notable genes include *APOE*, linked to Alzheimer’s disease and lipid metabolism, and *LRP1*, involved in cholesterol regulation. Chromosome 10 also harbors genes related to neurological disorders, such as *HTT*, which plays a role in Huntington’s disease.

Structural variations, such as deletions or duplications on chromosome 10, have been linked to developmental disorders, including Smith-Magenis syndrome (caused by deletions in the 10p11.2 region) and Potocki-Lupski syndrome (resulting from duplications in 10p11.2–10q26.3). Additionally, copy number variations in this chromosome have been associated with autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia.

Chromosome 10 undergoes replication during the S phase of the cell cycle and is essential for maintaining genomic stability. Advances in genomic research continue to uncover its role in health and disease, making it a focal point for genetic studies and potential therapeutic targets.