The MHC Haplotype Project will provide a framework for association studies of MHC-linked diseases.. Homo sapiens

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region on chromosome 6 (6p21.13) includes many genes and haplotype variations that significantly impact autoimmunity and infectious response. The MHC region is gene-dense and highly polymorphic, including variation at the level of gene content. Susceptibility to over 100 diseases has been associated with this region. The MHC Haplotype Project is sequencing the 4.5Mb MHC region for at least 8 common haplotypes. Comparison of the genomic sequence will increase our understanding of variations in this critical region of the genome. This project provides an important public resource in terms of clones, sequence, and variation data and provides framework for association studies of MHC-linked diseases.