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quesarah1.
Wed Oct 20, 2:07 PM ET
Science - Reuters
By Patricia Reaney
LONDON (Reuters) - A more refined analysis of the human genome, or book of life, shows people have fewer genes than previously thought, an international team of scientists said on Wednesday.
Instead of 100,000 genes, the initial estimate, scientists working on the Human Genome Project (news - web sites), a publicly funded collaboration of scientists from 20 institutions in the United States, Europe and Asia, have reduced the number to 20,000-25,000.
"Only a decade ago, most scientists thought humans had about 100,000 genes. When we analyzed the working draft of the human genome sequence three years ago, we estimated there were about 30,000 to 35,000 genes, which surprised many," said Francis Collins, the director of the US National Human Genome Research Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.
"This new analysis reduces that number even further and provides us with the clearest picture yet of our genome," he added in a statement.
By identifying genes in humans and what they do, scientists hope to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and to find preventions and cures.
Ultimately researchers hope to compile a complete list of all human genes and their related proteins to aid scientists in biomedical research.
"It's important to let people know that there is an even better reference sequence out there for the human genome," Dr Jane Rogers, head of sequencing at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in England, which worked on the project, said in an interview.
The refined sequence reported in the science journal Nature is the most complete so far. It covers 99 percent of the gene-containing parts of the human genome, identifies 99.7 percent of known genes and is 99.9 percent accurate, according to the scientists.
Because it is so complete it will allow scientists to search for the causes of disease and inheritable factors that predispose people to illnesses such as diabetes or cancers.
Scientists also expect it to advance drug development by customizing treatments to genetic profiles.
The refined sequence identifies the birth of 1,183 genes in the last 60-100 million years and the death of about 30 genes in a similar period.
Rogers said now that researchers had a refined sequence of the human genome they needed to learn more about how genes are regulated and used.
2. Go Sox!!
Wed Oct 20, 2:07 PM ET
Science - Reuters
By Patricia Reaney
LONDON (Reuters) - A more refined analysis of the human genome, or book of life, shows people have fewer genes than previously thought, an international team of scientists said on Wednesday.
Instead of 100,000 genes, the initial estimate, scientists working on the Human Genome Project (news - web sites), a publicly funded collaboration of scientists from 20 institutions in the United States, Europe and Asia, have reduced the number to 20,000-25,000.
"Only a decade ago, most scientists thought humans had about 100,000 genes. When we analyzed the working draft of the human genome sequence three years ago, we estimated there were about 30,000 to 35,000 genes, which surprised many," said Francis Collins, the director of the US National Human Genome Research Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.
"This new analysis reduces that number even further and provides us with the clearest picture yet of our genome," he added in a statement.
By identifying genes in humans and what they do, scientists hope to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and to find preventions and cures.
Ultimately researchers hope to compile a complete list of all human genes and their related proteins to aid scientists in biomedical research.
"It's important to let people know that there is an even better reference sequence out there for the human genome," Dr Jane Rogers, head of sequencing at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in England, which worked on the project, said in an interview.
The refined sequence reported in the science journal Nature is the most complete so far. It covers 99 percent of the gene-containing parts of the human genome, identifies 99.7 percent of known genes and is 99.9 percent accurate, according to the scientists.
Because it is so complete it will allow scientists to search for the causes of disease and inheritable factors that predispose people to illnesses such as diabetes or cancers.
Scientists also expect it to advance drug development by customizing treatments to genetic profiles.
The refined sequence identifies the birth of 1,183 genes in the last 60-100 million years and the death of about 30 genes in a similar period.
Rogers said now that researchers had a refined sequence of the human genome they needed to learn more about how genes are regulated and used.
2. Go Sox!!
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Date: 2004-10-21 10:08 am (UTC)