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Genome Surprise

Posted by timothy on Sunday April 13, 2003 @12:59PM from the paring-down-estimates dept.

Catskul writes "Along with the news that the polished and (more nearly) complete human genome being published Monday, comes a surprising observation about the genome: We have substantially fewer genes than expected; between 27,000 and 40,000 as compared to an original estimate of 140,000." Update: 04/14 01:22 GMT by T : For everyone who can't look at a Z, headline updated with an S in "surprise."

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Beware by Anonymous Coward · 2003-04-13 13:06 · Score: 4, Interesting

This does not equal _gene expression_, or does not explain epigenetic effects.

This kind of news always makes me wary. Did the reporters mean what the author had in mind? Yes, when it comes to genetics I am more suspicious, after all, as a political tool it is too powerful for lunatics to be based on empty air; if you see what I mean.