Human Gene Count Slashed

jd writes "The estimate for the number of genes in human genetic code has been savagely revised downwards. The new estimate, of between 20,000 to 25,000 genes is marginally less than the 27,000 for the Arabidopsis, a flowering plant in the mustard family. Earlier estimates had placed the number of genes at around 44,000 - or even as high as 100,000. Eric Lander of the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts is quoted in the CNN story as saying that the number of genes isn't as crucial as how they are used." Read on for more, below.

jd continues: "This has the potential for making life extremely interesting for genetic engineers, given that both individual genes and interactions between genes must be proportionately more complex, in order to get the same level of complexity out. Half the number of genes equates to twice the information encoded in forms other than discrete physical blocks of code.

There is no mention in the article of a story running in 2002 of genetic therapies unexpectedly causing cancer, although if you now factor in the increased complexity of interactions, it is possible that such side-effects can be better understood and therefore prevented. The new estimates, therefore, are more than just idle curiosity but have the potential for impacting how the science is approached."

Comments

Long enough post?

[michaeltoe]

I'm disturbed by your line breaks... they threaten the status quo.

Re:Complexity for smaller?

[Saven Marek]

No no payment it would all be free once the design is finallised. All that happens is a trade where when an iPod is sent I perform the work in trade for the parts needed removed when iPod is case modded to use LED.

The iPod Lite Project taking orders soon.

Metal Gear Solid 2

[Bulldozer2003]

Did anybody play Metal Gear Solid 2? This is really a cover-up by the Patriots to secretly engineer the genome army.

Re:Internets?

[Kombat]

I believe he was making a subtle reference to George Bush's comment at the last debates, where he said something to the effect of, "I'm aware of the rumours circulating on the Internets about a backdoor draft ..."

Immediately after he said that, my wife and I looked at each other and I exclaimed, "There's more than one????"

Re:Internets?

[JDevers]

That's funny because my wife and I said the exact same thing, probably at the exact same instant. Did you happen follow that up with "what a dumbass" ? =)

Re:Ah

[Idealius]

Funny, not flamebait.

Or even offtopic i would say.

Definately not flamebait though, much too hilarious.

I'm guessing some mod out there says:

"Oh, I'm average.."

Come bed time:

Girl: "My god, you have an extra pinky finger!!"

bahaha ;)

Re:Gene Therapy

[foniksonik]

The only way to stop terrorism is to remove the environment that fosters it. To do that you have to go through a two step process. First you have to confront and immobilize/remove those who support such environments. Second you have to transform said environment into one which will not allow such activities to gain support.

Just doing the first part of that process will not stop terrorists or a culture of terrorism, it will only send it underground again and delay it. So for instance, killing Osama bin Laden will not stop anything. The leadership will change and resources will shuffle around but eventually the people involved will regroup and begin again.

Currently the US government has pursued the first step and has had success in multiple campaigns (Afghanistan and Iraq). The US government has also pursued the second step and again has had success (Afghanistan and soon Iraq). By success I mean that they have accomplished a majority of the goal, being the removal of proponents/supporters of terrorism and establishing environments where a culture of terrorism is unacceptable.

More specifically the US government along with it's allies have in fact stopped the Taliban in Afghanistan from being the most powerful institution and have transformed that country into one where a democratically elected institution will hold sway. It may not be perfect yet but it is a damn fine start.

In Iraq a similar situation is happening now wherein Saddam Hussein, a known supporter of terrorism via financial support for terrorist organizations such as Hamas, has been deposed and removed from power. Likewise the institution of power is in the process of being transformed from one where a small minority controlled the future of the entire population to one where the majority will elect a representative government. Currently there is fighting between two minority groups... the US military and the Insurgent forces, some of whom are terrorist in nature, others are dissatisfied formerly powerful tribes. The majority in Iraq wants to bring about the same transformation that is the goal of the US goverment, that of a majority elected governing institution.

We know how to stop terrorism AND we are working on it. Do you expect decades of inbred hostility and anger to be swept aside in a few months of activity? The culture of terror has been building for at least that long and preys upon those who are most disenfranchised in the world, such as the people of Iraq who have been in such condition for over 30 years. Have some damn patience. Changing the world takes time.