Celera publishes analysis of human genome
Celera scientists now estimate there are between 26,500 30,000 genes, contrary to earlier estimates of 50,000 to more than 140,000. The published genome is now available free of charge to academic and non-profit researchers worldwide through Celera's Web site (celera.com).
Due to the relatively low number of genes, Celera scientists believe it will be necessary to look elsewhere for the mechanisms that generate the complexities inherent in human development and the sophisticated signaling systems that maintain homeostasis. Celera scientists believe researchers will now be able to pursue a number of those factors with access to the data on non-gene regions of the genome, including those containing regulatory elements that moderate gene transcription and molecular activity that leads to alternative start and stop sites for the transcription of DNA.
The publication also revealed that humans are 99.9 percent genetically identical, with differences occurring in only about 800 letters per million letters in each person's genetic code. Only about one percent of the genetic code in the human genome acts as genes coding for proteins in the human genome.
"This is a momentous occasion for all the scientists around the world who have worked to decode the billions of letters that make up the human genome," said Craig Venter, President and CSO of Celera. "We are extraordinarily proud of the speed and accuracy with which we have accomplished this at Celera, as we realize this represents a new starting point in biological research. We firmly believe that our work will stand the test of time and will be the foundation for discovery leading to potential cures and treatments for illness."
The information will be published in the February 16 edition of the journal Science in a paper by Celera authors Venter, Mark D. Adams, Vice President of Genome Programs, and Eugene Myers, Vice President of Informatics Research. The paper outlines Celera's methods for sequencing and assembly of the human genome, as well as results from the first analysis of the human genome. Celera completed the sequencing and assembly of the human genome in nine months.