According to a leading private sector participant in the US genome sequencing effort, there may be more than 140,000 genes in the human genome - almost twice conventional estimates. Randall Scott, president and chief scientific officer of the California-based Incyte Pharmaceuticals, made this suggestion during his presentation to the annual International Genome Sequencing and Analysis Conference in Miami, sponsored by the Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR). Researchers were not surprised by the new estimate as sequencing work on other organisms has tended to result in an increased estimate of the number of genes these organisms contain - normally by a factor of about 20 per cent.
Sources and References
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Gene estimate rises as US and UK discuss freedom of access
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Researchers: humans have more genes than once thought
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