Number of Human Genes Decreasing
Science writer Carl Zimmer of The Loom has done the count and arrived at 18,308 genes in the human genome.
The pie shows that we’re now down to just 18,308 genes. That’s over 8,000 genes fewer than six years ago. Many sequences that once looked like full-fledged genes, capable of generating a protein, now don’t make the grade. Some genes turned out to be pseudogenes–vestiges of genes that once worked but have been since wrecked by mutations. In other cases, DNA segments that appeared to be parts of separate genes have turned out to be part of the same gene.
At this rate, we won’t be much better than fruit flies as the gene count continues to be refined. Carl’s organism of choice, E. coli, stands at 3200 genes on one chromosome.
Tags: carl zimmer, genetics, genomes, dna, genes, diseases, illness, health
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POSTED IN: General Genetics and Health
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1 opinion for Number of Human Genes Decreasing
Jackie
Mar 19, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Rather like how sperm counts are decreasing. We might not need to worry about global warming we might just go extinct before that :)
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