More Information on the Head Lice Genome

New genetic study of human head and body lice aims to clarify the relationship between the two types of lice, preparing the ground for further genome mapping.

The study by Bressa et al., published by the Oxford University Press in the September 2015 edition of the Journal of Medical Entomology, performed a variety of analyses on the head and body lice genomes, looking in addition as to how the gene is arranged within the cell and how it behaves during cell division.

Both head and body lice were shown to have 12 pairs of chromosomes, with no sex chromosomes identifiable.

The evidence within the study will assist further investigation of the influence of the lice genome on sex determination and environmental response.