Under Quinones' guidance, a machine prints 100 microscopic spots of fungus genes onto a glass slide. It is a step toward understanding how those genes work in concert to bring life to a lowly fungus known as Neurospora crassa. As the 21st century dawns, new technology allows scientists an unprecedented look inside the DNA molecules that form the building blocks of life. The promise is tantalizing, offering hardier food crops and new tools to fight human disease. From modest organisms such as yeast, fungus and flies to the majestic human genome, the biology of life is emerging in greater detail than ever before.
Much work remains to be done.
It's like you've got all the boards and nails, but you don't have anything built yet. The gene myth Scientists have studied genes for decades, finding a single gene that controls eye color in flies, for example, or causes cystic fibrosis in humans. Most organisms have thousands of genes, and most remain unidentified. In addition, most interesting characteristics depend on many genes working in concert. To better understand the struggle, consider DNA as the book of life.