http://spittoon.23andme.com/2008/11/18/23andme-scientists-offer-solution-to-apparent-mutation-rate-discrepancy/ A receptacle for genetic knowledge. Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:51:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 http://spittoon.23andme.com/2008/11/18/23andme-scientists-offer-solution-to-apparent-mutation-rate-discrepancy/comment-page-1/#comment-1084 EasternCleric Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:00:01 +0000 http://spittoon.23andme.com/?p=1980#comment-1084 The process of observing mutations over time yields lots of insight on human genetic diseases. Improvements in methods of timing seem very important. However, a recent article in Molecular Biology and Evolution, "An Ancient Evolutionary Origin of Genes Associated with Human Genetic Diseases" may indicate there is much less importance than might be initially expected. It turns out that the majority of disease genes were already present in the eukaryotic ancestor, and the second largest number has arisen around the time of evolution of multicellularity. Tomislav Dmazet-Loso and Diethard Tautz suggest that since 90% of disease genes have emerged before the bilaterian radiation, the better model for genetic study of these diseases would be nematodes or insects instead of humans. The process of observing mutations over time yields lots of insight on human genetic diseases. Improvements in methods of timing seem very important. However, a recent article in Molecular Biology and Evolution, “An Ancient Evolutionary Origin of Genes Associated with Human Genetic Diseases” may indicate there is much less importance than might be initially expected. It turns out that the majority of disease genes were already present in the eukaryotic ancestor, and the second largest number has arisen around the time of evolution of multicellularity. Tomislav Dmazet-Loso and Diethard Tautz suggest that since 90% of disease genes have emerged before the bilaterian radiation, the better model for genetic study of these diseases would be nematodes or insects instead of humans.

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