July 15, 2003
A: FROM MENTOR BARB KONTOGIANNIS IN CO
I don't know the direct answer to your question, but am aware of very interesting research relative to the human genome project that may help lead you to an answer. Many scientists are researching the DNA of the "Fugu" which is a Japanese pufferfish. It happens to have significant commonality to the human genome, but is 7 times shorter, therefore easier to study. Here's an excerpt from this website:(http://genome.jgi-psf.org/fugu6/fugu6.home.html)

"The Japanese pufferfish Fugu rubripes has the shortest known genome of any vertebrate species. As vertebrates, fish and humans share not only the defining characteristic of a backbone, but also many basic anatomical and physiological similarities. The compact Fugu genome contains the same basic vertebrate blueprint as the human genome in a sequence seven times shorter. This difference is primarily due to the scarcity in Fugu of the large repeat-filled tracts that litter the human genome. The relative compactness of the Fugu genome simplifies the detection and analysis of both gene sequences and gene regulatory elements."

If you were to run an internet search on "fugu" you will find a lot of information about the human genome project in general, and may find a more direct reponse to your question.
Have fun!