Tudies of existing cells to determine the minimum number of genes for a living cell have suggested that 206 genes are sufficient. if the ratio of protein-coding genes is the same in this minimal organism as the genes of staphylococcus epidermidis (0.409), how many proteins are represented in these 206 genes? protein-coding genes = the staphylococcus epidermidis genome contains 5496 genes and 2528530 base pairs. how many base pairs would be required to form the genome of this minimal organism if the genes are the same size as staphylococcus epidermidis genes? base pairs =