Yacht voyage yields array of new genes

March 14, 2007 | Source: Reuters

A yacht voyage that genome pioneer Craig Venter took around the world has turned up a startling array of new genes and new gene families.

They have found genes that help microbes use the sun’s energy in new ways, genes that help them use nitrogen, and genes that protect organisms from ultraviolet light, and have identified more than 6 million new proteins.