Figure 1. IgH genomic locus.

(a) Issues affecting VH database construction based on genomic reference assemblies. The top locus map contains a fully sequenced and assembled IgH region such as found in the human and mouse reference assemblies. The centre map illustrates genome assemblies with insufficient coverage resulting in the absence of some VH genes in the reference genome. The lower map illustrates the presence of rare genes/alleles that are yet to be identified in genetically diverse species. (b) Number of VH genes and alleles in human and mouse that are denoted as functional according to the IMGT database and the available set of published rhesus VH genes (August 2016) compiled from published sources³¹,⁴³,⁴⁴. *Rhesus sequences may be either genes or alleles.