Chromosome 18 - Junk DNA, or is it?

Of all our chromosomes, chromosome 18 is the least dense in terms of genes, with barely any of its rather paltry 76 million base pairs encoding actual genes. As with the rest of the human genome, a large portion of it is considered "junk DNA", so called because it doesn't appear to have any particular function.

There might just be a reason, however, that these seemingly pointless sequences of DNA have stuck around after billions of years of evolution. As Dr Adam Rutherford explains, what we currently perceive as junk could turn out to have a hidden purpose, which is why it's so important to keep sequencing more and more peoples' genomes.

[JayMannStuff]

So, are there any anomalies in the genes on Chromosome 18 in humans which have any real-world consequences (illnesses, deformities, etc) ? And even if most of that DNA is junk rather than rubbish, what have we seen about the DNA of humans with changes in the DNA of Chromosome 18 which might give us any indication of what it's doing?

(Also, have we got any online supercomputer projects like BOINK that help scientists work out what Chromosome 18 does, and if so, how can we help? Could we be given any links?)

[xBris]

Information: Zero. But nice christmas lights you've got there :)

[StephenMortimer]

As a legal rep of #18 (Pettifog & Pettifog LLC) you are advised of coming action for LIBEL !!

[hulspas]

Go to The Chromosome 18 Registry and Research Society at www.chromosome18.org and see how wonderful our kids are with Chromosome 18 differences.

[Hangrid]

Turn that "That Science folks" to "That's Science, B*tches" and this will be my favourite RI Chromosome video...ok, I am a child.