8.3: Using Genome Projects

Question 1

What is the genome?

Answer 1

The complete set of genetic information contained in the cells of an organism

Question 2

What is genome sequencing?

Answer 2

Identifying the DNA base sequence of an individual. This allows us to determine the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide coded for by that DNA.

Question 3

What is the proteome?

Answer 3

The complete set of proteins that can be produced by a cell

Question 4

Can we directly translate the genome into the proteome?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Give an application of sequencing the proteome in simple organisms

Answer 5

Identifying potential antigens for use in vaccine production

Question 6

Give some applications of genome sequencing

Answer 6

• Comparing genomes between species to determine evolutionary relationships
• Genetic matching
• Personalised medicine
• Synthetic biology

Question 7

How have sequencing methods changed over time?

Answer 7

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