In: Biology
QUESTION #1
What was the pre-genome sequencing estimate for the total number of genes in the human genome and how many genes were discovered once sequencing was complete? Why do you think there was such a discrepancy between these numbers?
QUESTION #2
Why is looking for regions of the genome that are very similar across organisms (conserved) such an important part of understanding genome evolution?
Ans-1- Pre-genome sequencing estimates for the total number of genes in humans were made by the scientists to be between about 30,000 and 100,000.
But after completion of human genome project in 2001, only 20,000 to 25,000 protein-coding genes were found.
This discrepancy was found because initially the estimation was done based on the number of proteins formed neglecting the contribution to the diversity by
On top of this, maximum part of the genome was found to comprise non-coding repetitive sequences.
Ans-2- Analyzing the conserved genes and their functions across species is an important component of comparative evolution because:
1. It highlights genomic signals that control function of genes across many species. for eg- histone proteins for the chromatin modelling and packing are conserved across all the species as the packing of genetic material is a universal phenomenon.
2. It also helps to know how crucial the gene is for our survival because any mutation in conserved genes turn out to be lethal.
3. Understanding how the diversification happens in various species from a single set of conserved genes provides an insight on how the environmental influences act at the genetic level.