Scientists complete new monkey gene map

[HelloHockeyFans]

New monkey gene map may hold human clues

The rhesus macaque is the third primate genome to be completed, work that promises to greatly enhance understanding of primate evolution, perhaps even to help explain what makes us human.

Not surprisingly, the DNA of humans, chimps and macaques are highly similar. Humans and chimps have evolved separately since splitting from a common ancestor about 6 million years ago, but still have almost 99 percent of their gene sequences in common.

Here's the key: Six million years isn't long in evolutionary history. So if a particular gene is different in the human and the chimp, it's impossible to know which version came first. Add these more ancient Old World monkeys into the mix, however, and it may be possible to tease out genetic changes that were important for key traits of modern humans, such as higher brain power and walking upright.

"That does point us, in a much more powerful way, to answering the question, 'What does humanness mean?' at the DNA level," said Collins, director of NIH's National Human Genome Research Institute.

Stay tuned: More primate gene maps are on the way, including blueprints for orangutans, gorillas and gibbons.

[CaptainCrunch]

Yes . . Yes one step closer to creating monkeys that can fly, or sharks with laser beams in thier fricken heads.

[Frank the Tank]

Pffft! Everyone knows Jesus made the DNA "look" similar to trick us all! Come on! Where's my jar of peanut butter to prove my theory?

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Frank the Tank

Pffft! Everyone knows Jesus made the DNA "look" similar to trick us all! Come on! Where's my jar of peanut butter to prove my theory?

I don't have any PB, but you can borrow my Banana if you want.

[Frank the Tank]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

I don't have any PB, but you can borrow my Banana if you want.

Too phalic for me my friend!!

[skins]

I was reading about this the other day and the following argument came up. Of the 99% of genes that people and monkeys share, is the gene(s) that determine what you look like included in that 99%? if so, why don't people and monkeys look exactly the same? is it that 1% that makes us different?

maybe there are some more knowledgeable posters out there that can answer this, cause I'm confused.

[Knut]

Insert left-wing Bush-shot here.....

[Knut]

Originally Posted by skins

I was reading about this the other day and the following argument came up. Of the 99% of genes that people and monkeys share, is the gene(s) that determine what you look like included in that 99%? if so, why don't people and monkeys look exactly the same? is it that 1% that makes us different?

maybe there are some more knowledgeable posters out there that can answer this, cause I'm confused.

Essentially only a small part of our genome actually codes for proteins, and thus are expressed in some way. Therefore if the 1% that is different is actually mostly made up of these areas there can be huge differences between animals, eventhough the "junk" is the same.


from..., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_genome (I know.. but i wanted a source so it didnt sound like i was making it up)....

"Protein-coding sequences (specifically, coding exons) comprise less than 1.5% of the human genome.[2] Aside from genes and known regulatory sequences, the human genome contains vast regions of DNA the function of which, if any, remains unknown. These regions in fact comprise the vast majority, by some estimates 97%, of the human genome size. "

[skins]

thanks Hesla,

so is that saying that essentially we don't know what 97% of our genes do?

[Knut]

Yup....

Or at least those 97% dont produce proteins... which are the building blocks of life.

I personally think that the excess material is to protect us from damage due to mutation. If you think about it if a large area is affected by radiation/toxins and there are no actual genes in the area nothing will happen. But if you have less of this "junk" the chance of an important gene being altered is larger.

[tanguay'sstillgood]

Originally Posted by skins

thanks Hesla,

so is that saying that essentially we don't know what 97% of our genes do?

close. the "junk" DNA arent really genes. Genes are the parts of the DNA that are involved in producing something (like proteins). Some parts of the junk DNA make up parts of genes by regulating when they are "turned on" or "turned off", but for the most part scientists dont know exactly why we have these extra sequences. They have figured out how to make them useful though, and now use them for tracing heredity, forensic testing... In fact, it is really these sequences that allow such successful DNA testing (making the odds that scientists can give about whether or not somebody committed a crime, for example, or paternity testing, be so staggering).