I'm getting bored with undergrad studies. I'm really, really intent on starting some kind of research in genetics or molecular biology and I was wondering if writing a paper about the tentative function of an uncharacterized human gene would be a good place to start.

 

Any ideas? Advice?

 

Thank you!

 

Your friendly Canadian future-researcher,

Roxy

Tricky thing, that. Truth be told, if you start off with a gene with unknown function your chances are low that you will be able to find its function. To give some perspective, the genetically best characterized organisms, is probably E. coli. Each (non-essential) gene has been knocked out at one time or another and even essential ones have been characterized (e.g. by rescue methods). Nonetheless, around 20-25% of its genes are still of unknown function. If you pick a random uncharacterized gene in humans, chances are very slim that you will find the right cell line and condition to elucidate its function.