Unit 1(1.5)- Human Genomics Flashcards
What is bioinformatics?
When computers are used to identify and analyse the sequence of bases in DNA.
What is a genome?
The complete DNA of an organism.
What can systematics compare?
The human genome to the genomes of other species. This them provides information on evolutionary relationships and the origins of related species.
What is personalised medicine based on?
Analysis of an individual’s genome.
What information may slight variations in the genetic sequences of an individual’s genome sequence provide?
Their risk of developing certain diseases.
What is it important to remember when assessing a person’s genome?
That some mutations are neutral and not harmful.
What does PCR stand for?
Polymerase Chain Reaction.
What is the Polymerase Chain Reaction?
The technique used for the amplification and detection of DNA sequences in vitro.
What does PCR amplification of DNA use for specific target sequences?
Complementary primers.
What three things must be present to amplify DNA?
Many of the four free nucleotides of DNA.
Primers
DNA polymerase.
Stages of PCR
Knowledge
What are arrays of DNA probes used to do?
Detect the presence of specific sequences in samples of DNA.
What does a DNA probe consist of?
A short single stranded fragment of DNA that is complementary to a specific sequence in the target DNA.
What can fluorescent labelling be used to do?
Indicate when the probe has successfully detected and joined with the complementary sequence on the target DNA.
