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To: Carry_Okie
Yes. And?

The trait, no matter how “epi” genetic, is determined by HOW the genome is read (epi) as well as what is in the genome (genetic). Knowing what the genome is helps to understand epigenetic factors just as much as genetic factors.

Your idea that due to the importance of epigenetic factors, the genome is somehow less important is a disconnect from the fact that epigenetic factors influence how the genome is read. You still have to know and understand the genome to fully understand EITHER genetic or epigenetic inheritance.

18 posted on 04/05/2010 7:06:37 AM PDT by allmendream (Income is EARNED not distributed. So how could it be re-distributed?)
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To: allmendream
Knowing what the genome is helps to understand epigenetic factors just as much as genetic factors.

Duh. It will still turn out to be a disappointment. For example, during fertilization, an egg actually goes through a process of selecting a sperm. By what criteria? They are almost certainly environmental conditions (hormones, sugar levels, whatever) both during the selection process and when the constituents were formed. Hence, the epigenetic "selects" the genetic.

I never said the genome project was useless, but the results are of significantly less determinative value than was touted; hence the financial performance of the resulting products will likely be a disappointment to the investors who plunked down their hard cash to finance the project. Considering the power and complexity of epigenetic factors, it will take vastly better instrumentation and computing power than we have now to even observe the process, much less characterize it. We have a very long way to go.

19 posted on 04/05/2010 7:20:32 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The RINOcrat Party is still in charge. There has never been a conservative American government.)
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