Big picture concepts Flashcards
In a sentence, describe the central dogma of molecular biology
• DNA is transcripted into mRNA, which is translated into proteins that, after protein modifications, have function
What -omic is used to analyse genes and how?
o Genes are analysed through genomics, involving DNA sequencing
What -omic is used to analyse mRNA and how?
o mRNA is analysed through transcriptomics, involving microarrays and next-gen sequencing
What -omic is used to analyse proteins and how?
o Proteins are analysed through proteomics, involving electrophoresis, chromatography and mass spectrometry
What -omic is used to analyse function and how?
o Function is analysed through metabolics, lipidomics and mass spectrometry
What does transcriptional regulation involve?
o Transcriptional regulation involves alternative splicing, cell type specific expression…
What does translational regulation involve?
o Translational regulation involves masking, mRNA stability…
What does post-translation regulation involve?
o Post-translational regulation involves modification by O-GlcNAc, phosphate, ubiquitin…
What percentage of the human genome codes for protein coding regions?
• Around 1% is protein coding regions
Describe the first estimate of the number of genes in the human genome and how it compared to reality
• First draft (2001) of the human genome estimated 30-40000 genes but by 2007 it was found that there were about 20,500 genes in the human genome
How are we similar to E.Coli and yeast?
o Metabolically, we are similar to E.Coli and yeast
Are the genes in the human genome unique?
o Most of our genes are shared with close and some with distant relatives
How many more genes do we have more than unicellular organisms?
we have 4-5x more genes than unicellular organisms
How many genes do dogs have? Do they have more or less genes than humans?
o We have more genes than dogs (19000)
How many genes does the worm have? Do they have more or less genes than humans?
We have less than the worm (25000)
How many genes does the arabidopsis have? Do they have more or less genes than humans?
We have less than the arabidopsis (28000)
How many genes does rice have? Does it have more or less genes than humans?
We have less genes than rice (75000)
What percentage are we identical to chimps?
o We are 96% identical to chimps
Do humans know the function of all their genes?
• Almost half the genes have an unknown function
Which is more complex, the genome or the proteome? Why?
• Complexity resides in the proteome
o Whilst the genome is static, the proteome can exhibit temporal and spatial differences
• The proteome is constantly changing as cells respond to environmental conditions
o DNA is chemically homogenous whilst proteins are heterogenous
• The proteome may be as complex as a whole organism, a tissue or a single cell type
o Proteins are cellular effectors
What is the proteome?
• Proteome- the proteins expressed by the genome at any one time
What is the functional proteome?
o Functional proteome- part of protein that is expressed at this point in time
What is the theoretical proteome?
o Theoretical proteome- the genetic basis of the proteome
What is proteomics?
• Proteomics is the study of the proteome