Human Chromosome 7 (Chr7)

Human Chromosome 7 is one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in humans, representing approximately 5% of the total DNA in the human genome (National Library of Medicine, 2024). It spans about 159 million base pairs and is estimated to contain between 900 and 1,000 genes that provide instructions for making proteins (NIH, 2024). These genes include several high-profile therapeutic targets such as the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), the BRAF proto-oncogene, and the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) (National Library of Medicine, 2024). While the chromosome itself is a structural unit of the genome and not a single druggable molecule, its abnormalities are central to various pathologies. For example, deletions of the long arm (7q) or complete loss of the chromosome (monosomy 7) are significant prognostic biomarkers in myeloid malignancies like myelodysplastic syndrome (Cancer.gov, 2023). Additionally, mutations in specific genes located on Chromosome 7 are responsible for conditions such as cystic fibrosis and Williams syndrome (NIH, 2024). Consequently, while drugs do not target the chromosome as a whole, many of the most successful precision medicines target the specific proteins encoded by its constituent genes.

Other names

Chromosome 7Chr7Group C chromosome

Not applicable