Human Genome Project Archives

Human Genome Project Spokesman Comes Around

"[O]ur understanding of the human genome has changed in
the most fundamental ways. The small number of genes --
some 30,000 -- supports the notion that we are not hard
wired. We now know the notion that one gene leads to one
protein, and perhaps one disease, is false.

"One gene leads to many different protein products that can
change dramatically once they are produced. We know that
some of the regions that are not genes may be some of the
keys to the complexity that we see in ourselves. We now
know that the environment acting on our biological steps
may be as important in making us what we are as our
genetic code." -- J. Craig Venter, Celera Genomics

Since 1958 geneticists claimed a one-gene-to-one-protein relationship. But Venter estimates there may be as many as 10 times more kinds of proteins in our bodies than there are genes. What does this mean? If the genes have less to do with abnormalities in the body than previously thought, could the environment we subject our bodies to be more important than we previously thought? Shouldn't we give more thought to protecting that environment, possibly via wellness? Perhaps the groundswell of support already building will grow into a medical revolution?

Could it be that the idea that a single gene protects or fails to protect smokers from getting lung cancer is wrong? Is it possible that there just aren't enough genes to determine whether a person is homosexual or heterosexual? Should I really be blaming my poor genes for my fat ass? These were just some of the questions that popped into my mind after reading this mind-blowing article. The link to the news story is below.

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