Ever since the genomics revolution took off, scientists have been busily deciphering vast numbers of genomes. Cataloging. Analyzing. Comparing. Public databases hold 239 complete bacterial genomes alone.
But scientists at The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) have come to a startling conclusion. Armed with the powerful tools of comparative genomics and mathematics, TIGR scientists have concluded that researchers might never fully describe some bacteria and viruses–because their genomes are infinite. Sequence one strain of the species, and scientists will find significant new genes. Sequence another strain, and they will find more. And so on, infinitely.
“Many scientists study multiple strains of an organism,” says TIGR President Claire Fraser. “But at TIGR, we’re now going a step further, to actually quantify how many genes are associated with a given species. How many genomes do you need to fully describe a bacterial species?”
[…]
Analyzing the eight GBS [Streptococcus agalactiae] genomes, the researchers discovered a surprisingly continual stream of diversity. Each GBS strain contained an average of 1806 genes present in every strain (thus constituting the GBS core genome) plus 439 genes absent in one or more strains. Moreover, mathematical modeling showed that unique genes will continue to emerge, even after thousands of genomes are sequenced. The GBS pan-genome is expected to grow by an average of 33 new genes every time a new strain is sequenced.
More on these elusive little buggers!
Kind of like Liberal spending priorities. Just when you think you’ve identified them all, ten new ones pop up out of nowhere.
Right on, Raging! (Is it possible that a complete lack of ethics or conscience constitutes a disease, or a genetic disorder?)
Here is a link to a paper on how researchers are using data on protein evolution to find viable rules to design and produce new, functional proteins. Evolutionary science and genetics is changing biology fundamentally.
http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept37389/files/243610.html
It’s interesting to note a thread on CTV bias gets hi-jacked and becomes a Harper bashing issue.
Thankfully the internet has at least got-ten past the mainstream gatekeepers to bring to light the bias. A snide “no kidding” remark highlights the hatred CTV has for conservatives and Harper in particular.
Is it any wonder that the corruption was able to thrive with mainstream Canadian corporate media nothing more than cheerleaders of the Liberal administration rather than inquisitors of a corrupt machine?
The most serious disease right now is the one which has taken hold is among the electorate – they are hallucinating that a bunch of thieves in three-piece suits are their Daddies and Mommies.
The cure is a simple one – lots of fresh air and hard work – but in most cases the victims have chosen voluntary demographic euthanasia instead.
Yay, I don’t wanna talk about politics today!
Naturally the problem in characterizing bacteria and viruses is that they continue to evolve and mutate at incredible speed. I left molecular genetics in the late ’80s when the human genome was largely unmapped. It sounds like the genetics field itself is evolving to become more like a database search than actual science.
I’m not certain how a brute force sequencing of the genomes of every strain of life will be overly informative in itself. However, the process of sequencing is largely automated and information is never bad to have.
Murray’s article represents the useful approach whereby specific DNA sequences need to be correlated to specific proteins and physical charactistics. I took a course on bacterial metabolism and it is amazing what bacteria can live on to supply energy. Narrowing down the DNA (and resultant) proteins may allow us to alter our chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
I think research on bacteria and plants may be more useful than even mapping the human genome.
And what is Canada’s contribution to genome research? Why help fund a musical film, of course. Unbelievable!
(Sorry Brian – in Canada the Liberals have made everything political)
From Paul Wells:
http://weblogs.macleans.ca/paulwells/archives/week_2005_09_18-2005_09_24.asp
We are pleased to report the latest adventures of Genome Canada, a granting council which is taxpayer-funded to support molecular biology research but which sometimes has, well… other ideas. I swear I am not making this up:
————–
Ottawa, September 19, 2005 THE SCORE, a groundbreaking musical drama about a scientist whose own genetic history threatens her career, her lab and her life, will have its world premiere on Saturday October 1 as part of the Vancouver International Film Festival. Produced by Vancouver’s Screen Siren Pictures, with the participation and collaboration of Genome Canada, THE SCORE is based on the award winning play by Vancouver’s Electric Company Theatre and tells the story of Dr. Lynn Magnusson as a brilliant geneticist racing to isolate a cancer-causing gene. All that’s standing in her way is competition from a well funded foreign lab, a ticking biological clock that leads to a risky office romance, and her own fears that she might carry the same Huntington’s gene that killed her mother.
I couldn’t get over how the media interviewer / news gal/troll so negatively phrased and rephrased the question about Harper, just dripping with contempt. Whatever happened to *balanced*?
If on a job interview, that clip was shown to the potential employer, there is a risk she may be booted out of the office. 73s TG
“The Infinite Genome”: is that another musical?
See this by Paul Wells:
http://www.commentsplease.com/collection/client/index.cfm
‘Your tax dollars at work
We are pleased to report the latest adventures of Genome Canada, a granting council which is taxpayer-funded to support molecular biology research but which sometimes has, well… other ideas. I swear I am not making this up:
��������������
Ottawa, September 19, 2005 �THE SCORE, a groundbreaking musical drama about a scientist whose own genetic history threatens her career, her lab and her life, will have its world premiere on Saturday October 1 as part of the Vancouver International Film Festival. Produced by Vancouver�s Screen Siren Pictures, with the participation and collaboration of Genome Canada, THE SCORE is based on the award winning play by Vancouver�s Electric Company Theatre and tells the story of Dr. Lynn Magnusson as a brilliant geneticist racing to isolate a cancer-causing gene. All that�s standing in her way is competition from a well funded foreign lab, a ticking biological clock that leads to a risky office romance, and her own fears that she might carry the same Huntington�s gene that killed her mother.
A FIRST IN THE FILM INDUSTRY: SCIENCE, ETHICS, DRAMA, COMEDY AND ROMANCE
THE SCORE was produced in part because of the strong interest and financial support from Genome Canada, the national funding and information resource relating to genomics and proteomics research in Canada.
�Part of our mandate is to ensure leadership in ethical, environmental, economic, legal and social issues related to genomics�, said Dr. Martin Godbout, President of Genome Canada. �Using the popular medium of film, THE SCORE examines the necessity for an active dialogue between the public and scientists in determining what ethical guidelines will dictate the ongoing exploration of our world. For Genome Canada, The Score is a precious tool that will facilitate understanding of genomics research and its impact on society, create an interest and encourage discussion among Canadians�.
�We have been a long-time fan of the play and we requested on a few occasions that the Electric Company restage it for our genomics and bioethics forums, but restaging The Score for one representation is not an easy endeavour, and can be quite costly�, continues Godbout. �Supporting a film version of The Score was an obvious and exciting choice for Genome Canada�.
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Incidentally, I know it’s just a musical, but that bit about the “well-funded foreign lab”? It’s documentary truth. You see, in foreign countries, the granting councils almost never fund musicals. It leaves them with extra money left over for… you know… labs.’
I eagerly await the revelation that the Canadian Space Agency has financed a hip-hop video of Holst’s “The Planets” (abbreviated) in an effort to re-focus the attention of male youth in the Jane-Finch area and thereby reduce the hand-gun murder rate.
See: http://www.space.com/sciencefiction/holst_mars_000309.html
Mark
Ottawa