One man's genes show DNA is still a mystery

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The first detailed map of a man's genes shows the genetic code is even more complex than anyone thought. For instance, science still cannot pinpoint what makes a person's eyes blue.

Initial study of genome entrepreneur Craig Venter's own DNA map shows 4.1 million places where his genetic code is different from the basic "reference" human genome.

This is many more than had been expected, including big differences that extend far beyond the single-letter changes that account for much of the variation seen so far.

"I think the biggest surprise is we are lot more different from one another than we thought," Venter said in a telephone interview.

But there are still some mysteries.

"I found out that I have a high probability of having blue eyes," the blue-eyed Venter said in a telephone interview.

"You can't even tell with 100 percent accuracy if I would have blue eyes, looking at my genetic code," he laughed. "We all thought that would be simple."

The researchers at the J. Craig Venter Institute in Maryland, along with teams at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and the University of California San Diego, analyzed Venter's genetic code to compare it with the rival human genome maps published in 2001 by Venter's private company and the publicly funded Human Genome Project.