Genetic breakthrough that reveals the differences between humans

George Mendel, the "Father of Genetics", may be turning in his grave. Scientists from 13 different research centers simultaneously published revolutionary findings that far surpass Mendel's pea plant experiments. These studies show that instead of humanity being almost 99.9 percent similar, we are more likely to be only 96 percent similar; that is almost 10 times more different from one another than previously thought. Mendelian genetics says that differences between humans can be explained by a variation here and there in the 'letters' of the genome, the amino acids of the DNA. The new research has shown that differences may be more likely explained by variations in whole sentences of DNA instead of one or two amino acids. Instead of having two copies of each gene, one from each parent, researchers have found that a person can have multiple copies of genes. This difference will have astounding implications in the area of genetic study. The researchers have already listed at least 17 conditions of the nervous system alone that may be explained by gene multiplicity, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The scientists also claim that variation in mental ability could be explained through this new 'layer' of genetics. This find seems to set the area of genetics back to square one of research, but will ultimately lead to resounding discoveries and changes in medicine.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/article2007490.ece