Genome projects

Question 1

What are genome projects used for?

Answer 1

used to determine the entire nucleotide base sequence of a wide range of organisms which make up genes, which can be mapped onto chromosomes - therefore the genome can be obtained

Question 2

What is bioinformatics and why is it important?

Answer 2

the science of collecting and analysing complex biological data such as genetic codes
- they can read, store and organise biological data at a much faster rate, without this it would be impossible to sequence the human genome

Question 3

What is shotgun sequencing?

Answer 3

• DNA is cut into many small, easily sequenced sections
• computer algorithms are used to align overlapping sections to arrange the entire genome
• these sequencing methods are continuously updated which has led to extremely rapid sequencing of whole genomes

Question 4

What are the medical advances as a result of human genome sequencing?

Answer 4

can identify SNP’s (single nucleotide polymorphisms) associated with diseases and disorders - allows for quick identification and early intervention for treatment
- also allows to establish evolutionary relationships between species

Question 5

Why is determining the proteome of prokaryotic organisms easier?

Answer 5

• have one circular piece of DNA that is not associated with histones
• no non-coding intron regions

Question 6

How does knowing the proteome of an organism benefit scientists?

Answer 6

• can identify proteins that act as antigens on the surface of pathogens - this can be used in vaccines by manufacturing antigens and administering them to people to produce memory cells

Question 7

Why is determining the proteome of humans difficult?

Answer 7

• difficult to translate the genome into the proteome due to non-coding genes and regulatory genes
• all individuals have different base sequences so mapped DNA will be different

Question 8

What are SNP’s?

Answer 8

single nucleotide polymorphisms - single base pair variations that occur at specific positions in the genome and are the main cause of genetic variation

Question 9

Why might the proteome of a single cell be different to the proteome of the whole organism?

Answer 9

cells may be specialised due to epigenetics meaning certain genes will be switched on/off so only certain proteins can be produced

Question 10

What is the epigenome?

Answer 10

all the chemical modifications to histones and DNA in an organism