1.8 genomic sequencing

Question 1

What is genomic sequencing?

Answer 1

-the sequence of nucleotide bases is determined for individual genes or entire genomes.

Question 2

How can computer programs be used to identify base sequences?

Answer 2

by looking for sequences similar to known genes

Question 3

How can we compare sequence data?

Answer 3

computer and statistical analysis are required

-these techniques are known as bioinformatics

Question 4

Explain our knowledge of sequenced genomes

Answer 4

many genomes have been sequenced

-particularly of disease causing organisms, pest species and species that are important model organisms for research

Question 5

What is phylogenetics?

Answer 5

the study of evolutionary history and relationships

Question 6

What is sequence data?

Answer 6

amino acid sequences for an individual protein

Question 7

What can sequence data be used for?

Answer 7

it can be used to study the evolutionary relatedness among groups of organisms

Question 8

What data is needed for a molecular clock?

Answer 8

• sequence divergence

- fossil record

Question 9

What assumption are molecular clocks based on?

Answer 9

that there is a constant mutation rate

Question 10

what data is needed for a phylogenetic tree?

Answer 10

• sequence data results

- fossil evidence

Question 11

What are the 3 domains of life?

Answer 11

• bacteria
• archaea
• eukarya

Question 12

What is the main sequence of events in the evolution of life?

Answer 12

• cells
• existence of last universal ancestor
• prokaryotes
• photosynthetic organisms
• eukaryotes
• multicellular organisms
• animals
• vertebrates
• land plants

Question 13

What data is used to determine the main sequence of events in the evolution of life?

Answer 13

• sequence data

- fossil evidence

Question 14

What does comparison of genomes from difference species show?

Answer 14

that many genes are highly conserved across different organisms

Question 15

What could analysis of an individual’s genome lead to?

Answer 15

personalised medicine

Question 16

What is pharmacogenetics?

Answer 16

-the use of genome information in the choice of drugs

Question 17

What is the advantage of pharmacogenetics?

Answer 17

• maximise the benefits of the treatment

- by identification of the group the drug would be most beneficial for

Question 18

What can sequence divergence be used for?

Answer 18

to estimate the time since lineages diverged

Question 19

What shows evidence of the three domains of life?

Answer 19

comparison of sequences

Question 20

What does a molecular clock show?

Answer 20

when species diverged during evolution

• show differences in DNA sequences or amino acids sequences
• therefore differences in sequence data between species indicate the time of divergence from a common ancestor

Question 21

What can analysis of a human’s genome show?

Answer 21

it can predict the likelihood of developing certain diseases

Question 22

What is personalised medicine?

Answer 22

an individual’s personal genome sequence is used to select the more effective drugs and doses to treat their disease