Chromosome 17 (Chr17)

Chromosome 17 is one of the 23 pairs of human chromosomes, representing approximately 2.5% to 3% of the total cellular DNA (National Library of Medicine, 2024). It encompasses about 83 million base pairs and encodes over 1,100 genes, many of which are critical in human health and disease (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2024). Key genes located on this chromosome include the tumor suppressor TP53, the DNA repair gene BRCA1, and the oncogene ERBB2 (HER2) (PubMed, 2023). While the chromosome as a whole is not a therapeutic target, its constituent genes and their protein products are central to many drug development efforts, particularly in oncology. Structural variations such as 17p deletions or polysomy 17 serve as vital diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in clinical practice (StatPearls, 2024). Additionally, mutations in genes like NF1 and MAPT on this chromosome are linked to neurofibromatosis and various tauopathies, respectively (UniProt, 2024). Consequently, while not a "target" in the traditional sense, its genomic integrity is fundamental to cellular homeostasis and therapeutic response.

Other names

Human Chromosome 1717th chromosome

Not applicable