J_Lively
12-27-2002, 06:57 PM
By LISA BROOKS
BETHESDA, Md. — Humans and mice both have hair, five toes on each foot and an affinity for cheese. This month's publication of a draft of the mouse genome shows that genetically, too, we have much in common: 99 percent of our genes are also in mice. We have long known that all living organisms are related to one another genetically, but what does this newfound genetic similarity between humans and mice say about the similarities between any two humans — who are, after all, 99.9 percent the same at the DNA level?
Comparing the genome of humans to that of mice gives us a glimpse into the history of both of our genomes over the 75 million years since we last shared a common ancestor, a species that was a small mammal. One lineage that descended from that species became rodents, and eventually mice, and another became primates — and eventually humans.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/27/opinion/27BROO.html?todaysheadlines
BETHESDA, Md. — Humans and mice both have hair, five toes on each foot and an affinity for cheese. This month's publication of a draft of the mouse genome shows that genetically, too, we have much in common: 99 percent of our genes are also in mice. We have long known that all living organisms are related to one another genetically, but what does this newfound genetic similarity between humans and mice say about the similarities between any two humans — who are, after all, 99.9 percent the same at the DNA level?
Comparing the genome of humans to that of mice gives us a glimpse into the history of both of our genomes over the 75 million years since we last shared a common ancestor, a species that was a small mammal. One lineage that descended from that species became rodents, and eventually mice, and another became primates — and eventually humans.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/27/opinion/27BROO.html?todaysheadlines