Question

Consider the following statement w.r.t human genome project and select the wrong choice.
(A) Scientists have identified about 1.4 million locations where SNPs occur.
(B) The human genome contains 3164.7 billion nucleotide bases.
(C) The total number of genes is estimated at 30,000
(D) Less than 2 per cent of the genome codes for proteins.

Answer 1

Hint: In 1990 a project was launched order to sequence the human genome and that project is known as the human genome project. It was a mega project and lasted for around 13 years.
Step by step solution: The total estimated cost of the human genome project was around 9 billion US dollars. The human genome project was closely associated with the development of bioinformatics. Some of the important goals of the human genome project were – to identify all the genes in the human body (they are approximately 20,000 to 25,000), to store such huge information in databases, to improve tools for data analysis, address all the issues that may arise due to the project (these issues can be ethical, legal, and social issues commonly known as ELSI).
The human genome project was a 13-year old long project. This project (HGP) was finished in 2003. Knowledge about DNA can lead to treatment, diagnosis or even prevention of the thousands of disorders that affect human beings.
The major features of the human genome project were – the human genome consists of 3164.7 million bp, the average gene consists of 3000 bases, the largest gene is dystrophin at 2.4 million bases, a total number of genes is estimated to be 30,000, almost all the genes (99.9 per cent) are exactly same in all people, functions are unknown for over 50 per cent of the discovered genes, only less than 2 per cent of the gene codes for proteins, repeated sequences make up a large portion of total human DNA or total genetic material, chromosome-1 has maximum genes almost 2968 and chromosome-Y has the fewest almost 231, scientists have discovered almost 1.4 million locations where SNPs are present.
So, from the above information it is clear that option (B) is correct
Note: There were many challenges in completing the human genome project. If we have approximately 3 billion bp and the cost of sequencing each bp is 3 US dollars so the total estimated cost of the project would be approximately 9 billion US dollars. There were many challenges in carrying out and completing the mega project.