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Date: Mon, 25 Nov 96 17:44 EST
To: angenmapiastate.edu
From: "Jerry.Dodgson" <22314JBDMSU.EDU>
Subject: number of avian genes
In the latest version of the avian genome map (Bumstead, Cheng, and
Crittenden, soon to be available at http://poultry.mph.msu.edu), there is no
evidence for clustering of expressed genes on microchromosomes (in comparison
to anonymous markers). So I have considerable doubt about the hypothesis that
expressed genes are predominantly located in or even heavily enriched in
microchromosomes.
Without having done any careful surveying, my impression based on studies of
several gene families (globin, histone, actin, HMGs) is that in most cases,
chickens have a similar number of genes to mammals, but with smaller
intergenic regions, many fewer pseudogenes, and in some cases smaller introns.
Thus, although the argument remains at the academic stage as Dr. Miller
suggests, my best guess would be that birds will have a similar number of
functional genes as do mammals (but fewer pseudogenes), but more closely
spaced (and probably rather evenly distributed among euchromatic regions).
Just one person's opinion, though.
Jerry Dodgson,
Dept. of Microbiology, Michigan State U.
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