GENES HAVING LINEAGE SPECIFIC VARIATIONS IN COPY NUMBER AND METHODS OF IDENTIFYING SAME

摘要

The invention provides methods of identifying gene copy number changes between species using interspecies cDNA array-based comparative genomic hybridization. The methods are used to compare the cross-species hybridization signatures of mammalian genes to identify genes that have alterations in copy number and/or significant changes in exonic sequence between species. The genomic regions identified represent valuable genomic targets responsible for key phenotypic differences between the mammalian species studied.