Molecular linguistics: extracting information from gene and protein sequences.

At the heart of all the NRC recommendations was the understanding that the sequence of the human genome would require interpretation. Biological experimentation was seen as the only realistic means of interpretation. The experimental tractability of the model organisms, it was hoped, would facilitate elucidation of the functions of genes and proteins. Taking advantage of the slow rate of protein evolution, the understanding obtained in the model organisms might allow reliable inferences concerning possible roles of the cognate human genes and proteins (see ref. 2 for an example of this argument at that time). In short, the model organisms were to serve as the “Rosetta Stone” that would allow us to understand the human genome sequence, just as the original Rosetta Stone allowed decipherment of the ancient …