HUMAN GENOME PROJECT and PHEROMONES

[abductor]

Olfactory receptors likely constitute the largest gene superfamily in the vertebrate genome. Here we present the nearly complete human olfactory subgenome elucidated by mining the genome draft with gene discovery algorithms. Over 900 olfactory receptor genes and pseudogenes (ORs) were identified, two-thirds of which were not annotated previously. The number of extrapolated ORs is in good agreement with previous theoretical predictions. The sequence of at least 63% of the ORs is disrupted by what appears to be a random process of pseudogene formation. ORs constitute 17 gene families, 4 of which contain more than 100 members each. \"Fish-like\" Class I ORs, previously considered a relic in higher tetrapods, constitute as much as 10% of the human repertoire, all in one large cluster on chromosome 11. Their lower pseudogene fraction suggests a functional significance. ORs are disposed on all human chromosomes except 20 and Y, and nearly 80% are found in clusters of 6-138 genes.

Well folks check out:
http://www.genome.org/cgi/content/full/11/5/685 (\"http://www.genome.org/cgi/content/full/11/5/685\")

http://gnn.tigr.org/articles/02_02/scent_mice.shtml (\"http://gnn.tigr.org/articles/02_02/scent_mice.shtml\")

[ToBeOrNotToBe]

Well, here\'s that subject again: GENETIC!