About the dark corners in the gene function space of Escherichia coli remaining without illumination by scientific literature

Abstract

If the numbers of scientific articles about uncharacterized and understudied genes remain at least at present levels, full gene function lists for the strain K-12 MG1655 and the E. coli softcore genome are in reach within the next 25-30 years. Once the literature body for a gene crosses 10 FPEs, most of the critical fundamental research risk appears overcome and steady incremental research becomes possible.