PHEW! Our genome wasn’t invaded by genes from bacteria.
Earlier this year, it was claimed that over a hundred bacterial genes had
somehow jumped into the genomes of vertebrates. But Michael Stanhope and his
team at GlaxoSmithKline in Pennsylvania think the claims were based on faulty
analysis. They say their findings should calm fears that genes from genetically
engineered foods or bacteria could easily jump to humans.
When the first analysis of the human genome appeared in February
(New Scientist, 17 February, p 4),
researchers said they’d found 223 genes that
were common to humans and bacteria but absent from…
