Surprising Discovery: Humans Have Same Number of Genes as Small Plants and Worms

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Recent research indicates that humans possess approximately 20,000 to 25,000 genes, a significant reduction from earlier estimates of 30,000 to 40,000. This new figure aligns closely with the gene counts of simpler organisms, such as the C. elegans worm, which has about 19,500 genes, and the Arabidopsis plant, which contains around 27,000 genes. The revised estimate is supported by laboratory findings confirming the existence of 19,599 genes, suggesting that the lower range of 20,000 is reliable. This discovery challenges previous notions of human genetic uniqueness and highlights the genetic similarities shared with other species.
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NEW YORK -- In a blow to human vanity, researchers now say that people have about the same number of genes as a small flowering plant or a tiny worm. The new estimate is down sharply from just three years ago.

The new estimate is 20,000 to 25,000 genes, a drop from the 30,000 to 40,000 the same group of scientists published in 2001.

By comparison, C. elegans, a worm that is a favorite research subject, has around 19,500 genes. Another lab favorite, a plant in the mustard family called Arabidopsis, has about 27,000.

Scientists said the new range appears to be firm, especially with 20,000 at the lower end, because lab work has independently demonstrated that 19,599 genes exist.
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http://www.harktheherald.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=37943&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
 
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Perhaps you would care to search how many splice varients of our genes we produce? Complexity wise, i think we are still king :)
 
I post the same story.
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=48961
 

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