Curiosity
20,000 genes, far more proteins
The human genome has about 20,000 protein-coding genes — yet the different protein forms we produce may exceed one million.
When the Human Genome Project was completed, many were surprised: we have only about 20,000 protein-coding genes, similar to much simpler animals.
The diversity comes later. One gene can give rise to several protein versions (through alternative splicing), and each protein can also receive chemical modifications such as phosphorylation. Each variant is called a proteoform — and estimates reach hundreds of thousands, or even over a million.
That is why studying the proteome, not just genes, is essential to understanding how the brain works — and what changes in disease.
