Gates first African American to have complete genome sequenced

Interestingly, Gates carries both a European Y chromosome and mtDNA. He has been described as half European by earlier test givers.

"When we did my father's admixture test, my father is 67 percent white," Gates said. "I'm 50 percent. What does that mean? Does that make me less black? I had to ask all those questions. I'm very secure in my African-American identity. It just means that African Americans and European Americans have been inextricably intertwined on the most intimate level from day one in this country."

And something else even more interesting came out in the DNA testing.

"It's standard for those of us who have white ancestry to have inherited that white ancestry from the male line," Gates said. "My Y chromosome goes back to Europe and my mitochondrial DNA goes back to Europe...

http://www.afrigeneas.com/forum-world/index.cgi?md=read;id=461

.http://www.gale.cengage.com/free_resources/bhm/bio/gates_h.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Louis_Gates#Other_activities

Knome Featured in New PBS Series Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Marks the first time that the genome of an African American has been sequenced and analyzed

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Knome, a leading pioneer in the personal genomics field, will be featured in the new four-part PBS series Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. The series follows Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. as he uses advanced genetics tools to explore the ancestral histories of 12 renowned Americans, uncovering unique stories of immigration that illuminate the American experience.

Working with geneticists at Harvard Medical School and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Knome analyzed and interpreted the whole genomes of Professor Gates and his father, Henry Louis Gates, Sr. Through this process, Gates and his father became the first father and son, as well as the first African Americans, to learn about their genomes in such remarkable detail. What's more, Henry Louis Gates, Sr. is now the oldest human being to have had his whole genome sequenced and analyzed.

On the program, Knome scientists illuminate the striking 'mosaic' of ancestry in Professor Gates' and his father's genomes, tracing their ancestry to Africa, Europe and beyond. By comparing the two genomes to each other, they revealed the shared genetic heritage of a father and son, including aspects of their health risks and strengths. Further, by documenting the parts of their genomes that the two men did not share, Knome's analysis offered a glimpse of the genome of Professor Gates' late mother.

"This was, in many ways, a life changing experience for me," said Professor Gates, the Alphonse Fletcher University professor and director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard University. "Having my fully sequenced genome analyzed by Knome revealed incredible insights about my own past that I wasn't expecting. Now, as I follow the future of genetic research, I will be able to see how the latest scientific discoveries are related to me."

Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is a production of Kunhardt McGee Productions, Inkwell Films and THIRTEEN for WNET.ORG in association with Ark Media. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., William R. Grant, Peter Kunhardt, and Dyllan McGee are executive producers. Barak Goodman and Sue Williams are senior producers. The series premieres Feb. 10, 17, 24 and March 3 at 8 p.m. on PBS.

Professor Gates' profiled guests are to include professor and poet Elizabeth Alexander, chef Mario Batali, comedian Stephen Colbert, novelist Louise Erdrich, journalist Malcolm Gladwell, actress Eva Longoria, musician Yo-Yo Ma, director Mike Nichols, Her Majesty Queen Noor, television host/heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, actress Meryl Streep and figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi.

About Knome, Inc.

Based in Cambridge, MA, Knome is a leading personal genomics company focused on providing secure, state-of-the-art sequencing, data management, and analysis solutions to researchers and individuals. Knome was the first company to offer whole genome and whole exome sequencing and analysis services. Led by internationally-recognized geneticists, clinicians and bioinformaticians, Knome has been responsible for sequencing and interpreting more human genomes than any other company in the world. For more information, please visit www.knome.com.

SOURCE Knome, Inc.

Press Release

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