Lecture 9 Bioinformatics

Question 1

Define Bioinformatics

Answer 1

Field that uses computational tools for understanding biological data; combines biology, computer science, information engineering, mathematics, and statistics to analyze and interpret biological data

Question 2

What is proteomics?

Answer 2

Study of proteins

Question 3

What is a proteome?

Answer 3

Entire set of proteins produced by an organism

Question 4

What is angiogenin?

Answer 4

Signal molecule that stimulates blood vessel growth and is structurally similar to ribonuclease

Question 5

What is ribonuclease?

Answer 5

Enzyme that degrades RNA

Question 6

What are homologs?

Answer 6

Two molecules that are derived from a common ancestor

Question 7

What are paralogs?

Answer 7

Homologs present within one species that have a common origin (duplication event) but may have evolved different functions

Question 8

What are orthologs?

Answer 8

Homologs that are present in different species and that have similar functions

Question 9

What is sequence alignment?

Answer 9

Process where genomic sequences are systematically aligned to search for similarities; comparisons must rule out the possibility that the similarities are due to chance

Question 10

SLIDES 8-20 ARE BETTER OFF BEING STUDIED AND DISCUSSED THAN MADE INTO FLASHIES

Answer 10

SLIDES 8-20 ARE BETTER OFF BEING STUDIED AND DISCUSSED THAN MADE INTO FLASHIES

Question 11

What is BLAST and what does it stand for?

Answer 11

Stands for Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; used to detect sequence similarities between proteins or nucleic acids; search yields a list of sequence alignments accompanied by an estimate that the alignments occurred by chance

Question 12

What is a sequence template and what does it do?

Answer 12

Map of conserved sequences that are structurally and functionally important and are common to a particular family of proteins; allows the detection of homologies that may not be apparent with other techniques

Question 13

If 2 proteins have domains that are similar to one another, how would these be detected?

Answer 13

By performing sequence alignments with the protein itself

Question 14

When proteins are derived from a common ancestor, what is this a result of?

Answer 14

Divergent evolution

Question 15

When proteins have common functional and structural features, but do not share a common ancestor, what is this a result of?

Answer 15

Convergent evolution; convergent evolution is an example of proteins from different evolutionary pathways arriving at the same solution to a biochemical problem (such as serine proteases)

Question 16

What is the relationship between the lengths of branches of evolutionary trees and the number of differences in the AA sequences of the two proteins?

Answer 16

Proportional

Question 17

What is horizontal gene transfer?

Answer 17

Exchange of DNA between species that confers selective advantage on the recipient; common among prokaryotes

Question 18

What are the 3 criteria required to mimic evolution in the lab?

Answer 18

1. A diverse population
2. Selective pressure to allow fitness to be evident
3. Reproduction that permits the enrichment of fit of individual molecules

Question 19

What is medical bioinformatics?

Answer 19

Field that uses computers and information technology to gain, store, analyze, communicate, and display medical information and knowledge; aids the understanding and evaluation of clinical information and improves accuracy, quickness, and reliability of decision making; main purpose is to reduce medical risks, improve patient care, and cut costs of treatment