In the first comprehensive comparison between the genes of mice and humans, scientists from institutions across America, Sweden and the UK reveal that humans and mice have four-fifths of their genes in common, and a vast treasury of new genes has been revealed.

“These new findings are extremely important in helping us to separate genes that underpin biology that is the same across all mammals, from genes that make humans and mice so different from one another,” says Prof Chris Ponting, from University of Oxford, UK, one of the leaders on this project.