How did Venter's shotgun sequencing uncover 1.2 million new ocean genes?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the findings from Craig Venter's shotgun sequencing study that identified 1.2 million new genes from microbial genomes in the Sargasso Sea. Participants explore the implications of this discovery for oceanography and genomics, as well as the challenges of mapping these genes to their corresponding organisms.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants highlight the significance of discovering over 1.2 million new genes, suggesting it indicates a previously underestimated microbial diversity in ocean environments.
  • Others express curiosity about the next steps, particularly the mapping of these genes to specific organisms, questioning how this will be accomplished given the unknown origins of the genes.
  • A participant humorously notes the uncertainty surrounding the identification of the organisms associated with the newly discovered genes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of the discovery but express differing views on the feasibility and implications of mapping the genes to their respective organisms. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the methods and challenges of this mapping process.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not address specific methodologies for mapping the genes or the potential limitations of the shotgun sequencing approach in identifying organismal relationships.

Who May Find This Useful

Researchers and students in the fields of genomics, microbiology, and oceanography may find this discussion relevant, particularly those interested in microbial diversity and gene mapping techniques.

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http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20040305/01

Shotgun sequencing of the ocean reveals 1.2 million new genes in a single sweep | By Cathy Holding

New horizons in oceanography and genomics were opened up this week with the publication by Craig Venter and colleagues of a pilot study to shotgun clone and sequence microbial genomes filtered from seawater in the Sargasso Sea, off the coast of Bermuda (Science, DOI:10.1126/science.1093857, March 4, 2004).

More than 1.2 million new genes were identified, revealing a level of microbial diversity in seawater that was only previously guessed at. More than 700 of those were new rhodopsin-like photoreceptors.

“At the time of writing the paper, there were roughly 180,000 genes and proteins in Swiss-Prot [the curated protein database],” Venter told The Scientist. “In one paper, we're adding 1.2 or 1.3 million [genes].”

Venter said his group had extended the shotgun method to take it from single genomes to entire environments. “The level of discovery is truly extraordinary,” he said.
 
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They found the genes, now I am ready to see them map the genes.:smile:

Nautica
 
I'll bet they will map them, even though they don't know what critters those genes belong to!
 
Yet :wink: