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Chimpanzee Genome Sequenced

Posted by michael on from the in-laws dept.

dharash writes "Nature reports 'Researchers today released a draft version of the genetic sequence of our closest relative, the chimpanzee Pan troglodytes..The differences between the chimp's genetic code and ours should reveal what makes us human...' Click here for the entire article."

3 of 51 comments (clear)

  1. Assuming... by kinnell · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Assuming, of course, that the differences between the two genome sequences are greater than the difference between two animals in the same species.

    --
    If I seem short sighted, it is because I stand on the shoulders of midgets
  2. Should reveal what makes us human? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I doubt this will even reveal what makes a chimp a chimp.

    People expect too much from genome sequencing. This is a dead genome, not an expressive genome configured with epigenetic states in a runtime environment as would exist in a living cell. This is a good first step, but a genome sequence is barely a start and inferring high-level characteristics from such a sequence is ridiculous.

    1. Re:Should reveal what makes us human? by Charles+Dart · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The goal here I think is to be able to eliminate sections of the genome when looking for specific genes. For example if you are looking for the gene that causes chimps to grow coarse hair on their bodies you can eliminate all parts of the sequence that are identical to humans. (most humans I should say.)