(Unit 1.8) Genomic Sequencing

• What is the genome?

  The hereditary genetic information within an organism
• What is genomic sequencing?

  The process of determining the genome of an organism and the composition of its genes
• What significant project sequenced the entire human genome in 2003?

  The Human Genome Project
• How can genomic sequencing help in understanding diseases?

  It allows us to identify mutations that cause specific conditions
• How can genomic sequencing be used for accurate diagnosis?

  By sequencing the genome of a disease-causing organism, we can diagnose conditions quickly
• What is one use of genomic sequencing in agriculture?

  Creating specific pesticides that target only pest species
• What is a model organism?

  A species that is widely studied and easy to breed in a laboratory setting
• Why are model organisms preferred over mammals in research?

  They reduce research costs and ethical concerns
• What is bioinformatics?

  The use of computers and statistical analysis to compare genomes
• What does the term "conserved" refer to in genetics?

  DNA sequences that are very similar between different organisms
• How does the similarity of DNA sequences relate to evolutionary relatedness?

  Highly conserved sequences indicate a close genetic relationship
• What is a phylogenetic tree?

  A visual representation of how closely related different species are
• What does the bottom of a phylogenetic tree represent?

  The most ancient species
• What is a point of divergence in a phylogenetic tree?

  The point where a new lineage evolves from a shared common ancestor
• How can you determine the shared common ancestor of two species on a phylogenetic tree?

  By tracing back their lineages until they meet
• What is the role of fossil records in constructing phylogenetic trees?

  They help estimate the time of divergence between species
• What are the three domains of life classified by comparative genomics?

  Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryotes
• What is a molecular clock?

  A method of dating based on nucleotide substitutions in the genome
• How does the mutation rate relate to molecular clocks?

  The number of nucleotide substitutions is proportional to time
• What is the mutation rate for the gene that codes for alpha-globin?

  $0.56$ changes per billion years
• What is a potential problem with using molecular clocks?

  They assume a constant rate of mutation, which may not be accurate
• What is pharmacogenetics?

  The use of genetic information to predict responses to treatments
• What is personalized medicine?

  A treatment approach tailored to an individual's genetic makeup
• What are some concerns regarding the use of personal genomic information?

  Potential misuse by employers and privacy issues
• What is a key ethical consideration regarding genetic information?

  Whether individuals should know about potential future medical conditions
• What are the main uses of genomic sequencing?

  • Accurate diagnosis of diseases
  • Creation of specific pesticides
  • Use of model organisms for research
• What are the steps to construct a phylogenetic tree?

  1. Collect DNA sequence data
  2. Compare sequences to identify similarities and differences
  3. Use fossil records to estimate divergence times
  4. Visualize relationships in a phylogenetic tree
• What are the implications of personalized medicine?

  • Tailored treatments based on genetic information
  • Potential for improved treatment efficacy
  • Ethical concerns regarding privacy and discrimination