Estimates of the Number of Human Genes Reduced
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Scientists now estimate that it takes about the same number of genes to make a human as it takes for a small flowering plant or a tiny worm, according to a report in the journal Nature. |
Oct. 20, 2004
—Humans have just 20,000 to 25,000 genes - well down on previous estimates of 27,000 to 40,000, according to the latest analysis of the human genome. By comparison, C. elegans has around 19,500 genes and Arabidopsis has about 27,000, rice has 45,000 and maize 50,000.
The latest gene count reveals that researchers overestimated the number of genes in heavily-duplicated regions of the human genome. The new estimate, reported in Nature by the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium, is 20,000 to 25,000 genes, a drop from the 30,000 to 40,000 the same group of scientists published in 2001.
The authors of the article suggest that in comparison to simpler organisms, many human genes code for multiple proteins and for complex multi-function proteins.
References
Journal reference: Nature (vol 431, p 927 and 931)
New York Times, Oct 20, 2004
New Scientist, Oct 20, 2004
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