Re: Definition of "putative gene?"

Kim wrote:

> Hello--
>
> Can anyone help me out by giving me the definition of a "putative
> gene?"  Is it a gene found in two or more species that is from a
> common ancestor?


This is entirely the wrong news group to ask that question in. But a 
putative gene is a piece of DNA somebody thinks might be a gene based on 
its sequence, e.g. an open reading frame, but has no idea what the 
protein it may produce actually does, if indeed the sequence is ever 
transcribed.