The Human Genome Project hopes to list all the genes in DNA. But doesn’t everyone have unique DNA (excepting twins) so what good is it? And who’s DNA are they using?
The combinations of genes are unique. I think the genes themselves are not.
While your genetic code is unique, the actual genes making it up aren’t. For instance, one could look at your own code and say “Here’s the gene that gives him red hair” (provided you have red hair). That red hair gene will look the same in anyone who has it, it’s just that the majority of people won’t have it.
While looking at red hair genes might not be amazingly useful, a mapping of the genetic code will be very helpful in determining genetic predisposition to health problems (cancer, heart disease, sickle cell… what have you) and in coming up with a cure for what may be “genetic diseases” such as repairing or removing/changing a cancer gene or repairing the damage done from radiation or the like.
I’m sure someone else here can elaborate on all this much better than I can. Alphagene?
“I guess one person can make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.”
Where are those biologists when you need one?
Out playing golf with those doctors and lawyers?
Say, “Thank you,” Nano.
Are you driving with your eyes open or are you using the force? - A. Foley
I heard the Human Genome Project was supposed to be complete in 2010, but was WAY ahead of schedule, and would be done THIS year, or next. Also, I think you’re all right. (that’s not JUST a compliment :rolleyes: ) and genes are unique, but the area the gene is found on the chromosome # (# 1-23 pairs, I think) is uniform in ll ('cept mutant) people.
I’m not sure about this, but I think everyone has the same DNA, genes, etc. The only thing different among different phenotypes is which genes are expressed, or turned ‘on’. To me, this must be true because the human genome project is valid for all humans. That’s why so much time, effort, and money is being put into it.
“The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents.”
-H.P. Lovecraft, “The Call of Cthulhu”
For the most part, everyone has the same genes. But for any any given gene, the genetic information contained within that gene may vary from individual to individual.
Using blood type as an example, everyone has 2 genes which code for a protein which is embedded in the red blood cell membrane.
Some of these genes code for a protein which causes no antigen to be displayed outside the cell. This is type “O”.
Some of these gene code for a protein which causes one of 2 types of antigen to be displayed outside the cell, designated “A” or “B”.
Since everyone gets 2 of these proteins, several combinations are psossible:
O+O = O O+A = A O+B = B
A+O = A A+A = A A+B = AB
B+O = B B+A = AB B+B = B
There are some genes, however, which can be deleted in their entirety with variable impact on survivability. This difficulty is overcome in the human genome project by studying the DNA from a large number of individuals.
Sue from El Paso
Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.
Well, I’m not up at all on this subject, but it seems to me this statement is worded in a way that is more than a little confusing. I guess the following examples sort of unconfuse the picture a little, but wouldn’t a reasonable general statement be something like: ‘For a given species, the various chromosomes have definite positions for certain gene types; however, the genes within a type come in different alleles, which do their jobs somewhat differently among them.’
Ray (Need a lee’le more jingle in my jeans.)
And that’s clarity, thanks, Nanobyte. Tell us does that sig line mean you need to buy bigger jeans or you don’t have a lot of change right now?
Are you driving with your eyes open or are you using The Force? - A. Foley
Gene - a segment of genetic information which codes for a single protein molecule. A given gene is (almost) always found at a specific location on a specific chromosome in all individuals within the same species.
A gene may have several forms, which would each code for proteins with subtle, but sometimes critical, differences in structure, and, perhaps, in function. These different forms of a gene, or alleles, exist in different individuals within a species, and are responsible for all intra-species variability.
The human genome project’s task list is pretty ambitious:
- Create a map of every chromosome, determining the location of every gene.
- Determine the function of every protein coded for by these genes.
- Determine the range of alleles found in the human race for each gene, and learn what changes are caused by each allele.
NB: This is a little bit of an over-simplification; genes coding for antibodies in lymphocytes can rearrange bits & pieces of DNA to create a virtually endless assortment of possible antibodies in a process called “jumping genes”, or so I learned in the late 80’s & haven’t ventured back…
Sue from El Paso
Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.
I would imagine that some very large fraction (99.9%) of all our genes are exactly the same.
He’s the sort to stand on a hilltop in a thunderstorm wearing wet copper armor, shouting ‘All Gods are Bastards!’
Another group has started the Human Genome Diversity Project. They plan to take up the slack for the smaller out of the way groups of humans. The project has already started in Europe and Asia and third world countries are interested.
I haven’t seen a follow-up from this group yet. It’s run by a group of 12 geneticists but I don’t know who chairs it.
Are you driving with your eyes open or are you using The Force? - A. Foley
Technically, Sue, the HGP is not concerned with the function of every protein encoded by the genes. That’s really out of the realm of the gene jockeys. Once the genes are sequenced, the HGP is complete.
Here’s a good site for additional HGP info.
Gypsy: Tom, I don’t get you.
Tom Servo: Nobody does. I’m the wind, baby.
Alphagene, I had heard the term functional genomics used in relationship to the HGP, and had imagined it meant learning the function of each gene. The excerpt below from this Science article http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/282/5389/682
which I found through your link would seem to support this impression, although another area did clearly state that this was NOT an original goal, but rather was added in the last update.
Goal 4–Technology for Functional Genomics
The HGP is revolutionizing the way biology and medicine will be explored in the next century and beyond. The availability of
entire genome sequences is enabling a new approach to biology often called functional genomics–the interpretation of the
function of DNA sequence on a genomic scale. Already, the availability of the sequence of entire organisms has demonstrated
that many genes and other functional elements of the genome are discovered only when the full DNA sequence is known. Such
discoveries will accelerate as sequence data accumulate. However, knowing the structure of a gene or other element is only part
of the answer. The next step is to elucidate function, which results from the interaction of genomes with their environment.
::snip::
e) Develop technology for global protein analysis. A full understanding of genome function requires an understanding of
protein function on a genome-wide basis. Development of experimental and computational methods to study global spatial and
temporal patterns of protein expression, protein-ligand interactions, and protein modification needs to be supported.
- Sue
Yeah, Morgen die Welt, but I don’t think that implies all this would necessarily be done by that project.
Jois:
Well, it was just, I thought, a better outline for it. I couldn’t spit out the details, unless I went for an authority and just quoted it. But it’s like she says, in that next post (basically), right? (I assumed a question mark after your ‘clarity’.)
I knew that ambiguity would bother you. It’s the genes for wealth that I lack. Size of wealth means everything in the US of A. 
But, hey, more punctuation would help both of your sentences above.
Ray (Ya trailed one scent, ya smelled allopaths.)
Nanobyte, everyone should hold some punctuation in reserve, like money in the bank. Why toss it all out there at once?
Are you driving with your eyes open or are you using The Force? - A. Foley
Sue, my guess is that “functional genomics” involves the geneticists comparing the unknown genes from the HGP to known genes to categorize the gene somewhat. They may be able to decide with a certain degree of confidence that a gene encodes an unknown kinase for example, if the gene appears to have a recognized active site.
Determining the function of a protein can be greatly facilitated by knowing the sequence of its gene. You can get a lot of leads into its function and its cellular location, for example but the specific function of the protein requires a lot of specific protein chemistry. That kind of lab work is far too laborious and temperature-sensitive for the average geneticist. 
Gypsy: Tom, I don’t get you.
Tom Servo: Nobody does. I’m the wind, baby.