ABSTRACT

The inheritance of genetic information in humans (and other diploid organisms) requires that two copies of each chromosome, one paternal and one maternal, be passed on to offspring at conception. This process effectively combines the autosomal genomic DNA sequence from two genetically different parents into their single-diploid progeny. This reproductive strategy continually produces genetic diversity within and among human populations, because the chromosomal DNA sequences of the parents differ from each other and from others in the species or population at various nucleotide positions.