Using Genome Projects

• What is the genome?

  The complete set of genetic information contained in the cells of an organism.
• What is genome sequencing?

  Identifying the DNA base sequence of an individual. This allows us to determine the amino acid sequence of the polypeptides coded for by the DNA.
• What is the proteome?

  The complete set of proteins that can be produced by a cell.
• Can we directly translate the genome into the proteome?

  In simple organisms, yes. In complex organisms, due to the presence of non-coding DNA and regulatory genes, it is much harder to obtain the proteome.
• Give an application of sequencing the proteome in simple organisms?

  Identifying potential antigens for use in vaccine production.
• Give some applications of genome sequencing?

  • Comparing genomes between species to determine evolutionary relationships
  • Genetic matching
  • Personalised medicine
  • Synthetic biology
• How have sequencing methods changed over time?

  Used to be a manual process, however now it has become automated. A reaction mixture is created and after the process is complete, a machine reads the base sequence.