S5.15 Does size matter when it comes to your genes?
Hello, and welcome to Genetics Unzipped - the Genetics Society podcast, with me, Dr Kat Arney. In this episode we’re discovering whether size really does matter - when it comes to your genes and genome, that is.
Where have all the genes gone?
After a decade of work and billions of dollars, the first draft of the human genome was assembled in 2001. But for all the claims that we had finally unlocked the secrets of human biology and were setting off into a new era of gene-driven medicine, there was one rather glaring issue with this genomic book of life: where were all the genes?
Genes or junk?
Actual genes make up less than 2% of all the DNA in the whole human genome. So what’s all the rest? Is it just junk? The exact quantity and function of all this non-coding DNA is still a hot topic in the world of genetics, and – like the exact number of genes – seems to depend on how you measure it and who you ask.
Image by Proyecto Agua via Flickr
Are you more special than an onion?
As the only species that has been able to evolve to a point where we can read our own genetic code and start asking big questions about how it works and how it makes us who we are, we can perhaps be forgiven for thinking that the human genome is still pretty darn amazing – certainly more special than a onion. But is it true?
That’s all for now. We’ll be back next time with a report from Gregor Mendel’s 200th Birthday party, which is being thrown by The Genetics Society at the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Wisley in Surrey. I’ve got my party hat on and I’m ready to go!
For more information about this podcast including show notes, transcripts, links, references, music credits and everything else head over to geneticsunzipped.com You can find us on Twitter @geneticsunzip and please do take a moment to leave us a rating in the Spotify app or review us on Apple podcasts - it really makes a difference and helps more people discover the show.
This episode of Genetics Unzipped was written and presented by me, Kat Arney. It is produced by First Create the Media for The Genetics Society - one of the oldest learned societies in the world dedicated to supporting and promoting the research, teaching and application of genetics. You can find out more and apply to join at genetics.org.uk. Our theme music was composed by Dan Pollard, and the logo was designed by James Mayall, and audio production was by Sally Le Page. Thanks for listening, and until next time, goodbye.
