Can We Understand the Parameter Values in Human Genome?

Wentian Li

If we search for basic parameter values in the human genome,
in a similar spirit of cataloging mathematical constants
and fundamental constants in physics, we can list the number
of bases (3 billions), number of chromosomes (23 pairs),
number of genes loci (more than 20000), number of transcription
factors (more than 2000), guanine-cytosine content (40%), etc.
Some measures are less rigorously defined, such as the number
of gene-rich, GC-rich isochores (maybe around 120?). Some have
a wide range of possible values between individuals such as
the number of crossovers even after the gender difference being
taken into account. Some are only defined at the population
level such as the number of SNPs.  Besides the issue of measuring
these parameter values precisely, which by itself can be
non-trivial (take the example of the number of gene loci), the
more interesting question is where these numbers come from?
Although finding a first-principle explanation of any of these
parameter values can be much more difficult (e.g. what is the
minimum number of genes needed to support the functions of a
complex species like human), tracing the parameter difference
between human and sibling species is relatively manageable,
thus providing an evolutionary explanation of these values.

Reference:
W Li (2011), "On parameters of the human genome", 
J. Theoretical Biology, 288:92-104.