Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id IAA14436 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 13 Feb 2001 08:57:18 GMT Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745C66@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Human Genome Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 08:56:32 -0000 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Hi Able,
Thanks for these informative comments.
Am I right in saying that in experiments wher Hox genes have been fiddled
with (excuse my technical language :-)) in mice, they've uncovered latent
physiological programmes? I seem to remember reading in New Scientist a few
years ago about mice embryos with reptilian bone structures, or something
like that.
Vincent
> ----------
> From: Dr Able Lawrence
> Reply To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2001 5:38 am
> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Subject: Human Genome
>
> Hi All,
> Genome report (only 3000 genes) is not really surprising at all if
> we understand the implications of the recently discovered complexities in
> gene expression regulation The transcription factors are huge multi
> subunit
> complexes with countless interactions amongst them. The permutation and
> combination possible for interactions amongst transcription factors is
> realy mind boggling. There is more to genetics than mere genes and DNA
> sequences.
> The real implication of the new finding is that one gene- one
> function hypothesis is dead. Now we know that a single gene can produce
> myriad proteins like the immunoglobuin or T cell receptor or neural
> adhesion molecules involved in the complex wiring of the nervous system.
> On the contrary multiple genes are required for functional units (multi
> subunit complexes) involved in such vital functions as regulation of
> gene expression or respiration or protein synthesis.
> A lot of the complexity in higher organism is probably at the level
> of gene-gene interactions and the complex cascading and epigenetic effects
> on gene expression.
> To emphasize the point furhter, all our cells have the same DNA
> sequence (well almost) but are morphologically and functionally diverse.
> So it is not necessary to have different sets of genes but more fine
> tuned interacions to create us humans.
> As I pointed out earlier that smple minor vaqriations in gene
> expressions can have profound morphological implications. So the gene
> regulating embryogenesis (Hox genes) are highly conserved vertically in
> the evolutionary ladder (ladder itself is an anthropocentric view and
> other organisms can object!)
> throughout evolution new functions have rarely ever come about by
> inventing new genes (it takes too much directed ingenuity for that, may be
> only Lamarck or biotechnologists a few decades down the line can only do
> it) but by making new use or modifying old genes. Once useful but
> rudimentary function is discovered for an old gene, variation and
> evolution (and duplication if the old gene already has an indispensable
> function) would be favoured and would arise in due course of time.
> Duplication of genes in malignant clones in the body is a case in point.
> It would be ridiculous to say that the multidrug resistance gene in
> human malignancy had the same function before that begins to get favoured
> by surviving tumour cells.
> We must view genes as dynaqmically interacting information
> and also should not forget that the genes get their properties through the
> proteins they encode (with all the complexities of protein chemistry and
> protein protein interaction)
>
> Anthropocentrism is alive only in Christian theology!!
>
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Dr Able Lawrence MD
> Senior Resident
> Clinical Immunology
> SGPGIMS, Lucknow
> able@sgpgi.ac.in
> Ph +91 98390 70247
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
> ===============================================================
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This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
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