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Dosage compensation is less effective in birds than in mammals

Yuichiro Itoh* email, Esther Melamed* email, Xia Yang email, Kathy Kampf email, Susanna Wang email, Nadir Yehya email, Atila Van Nas email, Kirstin Replogle email, Mark R Band email, David F Clayton email, Eric E Schadt email, Aldons J Lusis email and Arthur P Arnold email

Journal of Biology 2007, 6:2doi:10.1186/jbiol53

Gene dosage - its misunderstood basis

Denys Wheatley   (05 April 2007)  Editor in Chief, CCI and TBMM email

Dr Itoh et al's paper, while interesting in its specific detail, has not grasped the basis of gene dosage. I recommend the authors reconsider this basis by consulting two early papers in TBMM (Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling), which is a BMC journal. The references are to John W Porteous' papers:

TBMM 1, 4, 2004

TBMM 1, 6, 2004

both of which are discussion on the meaning of Mendelian "genetics" (traits) when considered in the light of Kacser's Metabolic Regulation Hypothesis. Gene dosage is best understood only when levels of enzymes (or their products) approach a rate-limiting level within any metabolic (biocheical) pathway.

Competing interests

As indicated above, I am foundin editor (Editor-in Chief) of BMC's CCI and TBMM journals

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