Chromosome 17 is one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in humans. People normally have two copies of this chromosome. Chromosome 17 spans more than 84 million base pairs and represents between 2.5 and 3% of the total DNA in cells.
Inactivating PH mutation in either the EVER1 or EVER2 genes, which are located adjacent to one another on chromosome 17 causes Epidermodysplasia verruciformis.
A chromosome is a package of DNA with part or all of the genetic material of an organism. In most chromosomes, the very long thin DNA fibers are coated with nucleosome-forming packaging proteins; in eukaryotic cells the most important of these proteins are the histones. These proteins, aided by chaperone proteins, bind to and condense the DNA molecule to maintain its integrity. These chromosomes display a complex three-dimensional structure, which plays a significant role in transcriptional regulation.
Human chromosomes during metaphase
The 23 human chromosome territories during prometaphase in fibroblast cells
Image: Theodor Boveri