using DNA sequencing

Question 1

define bioinformatics

Answer 1

development of software and computing tools needed to organise and analyse raw biological data

Question 2

define computational biology

Answer 2

study of biology using computational techniques including modelling

Question 3

define genomics

Answer 3

field of genetics that applies DNA sequencing methods and computational biology to analyse structure & function of genomes

Question 4

define proteomics

Answer 4

study and amino acid sequencing of an organisms’ entire protein complement

Question 5

define DNA barcoding

Answer 5

identifying sections of a genome that are common to all species but vary between them to make comparisons

Question 6

define epidemiology

Answer 6

study and analysis of distribution, patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a population

Question 7

explain why comparing human genomes may help the understanding and treatment of human illness

Answer 7

• can recognise genetic patterns in individuals with same conditions
• genes work with the environment to affect phenotypes & our likelihood of developing certain diseases

Question 8

describe 5 reasons why scientists may want to analyse the genomes of pathogens.

Answer 8

• find out source of infection
• identify antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria
• track progress of an outbreak
• identify regions in pathogen genome that may be useful targets in development of new drugs
• identify genetic markers for vaccines

Question 9

describe 4 techniques that could be classified as synthetic biology.

Answer 9

• genetic engineering
• use of biological systems in industrial contexts (eg immobilised enzymes/production of drugs using microorganisms)
• synthesis of new genes to replace faulty ones (eg with cystic fibrosis)
• synthesis of an entire new organism

Question 10

describe how DNA sequencing allows scientists to identify the evolutionary relationships between species.

Answer 10

identifies similarities between barcode regions

Question 11

explain why knowing a DNA sequence should allow identification of the sequence of amino acids in the protein that is coded for

Answer 11

sequence of DNA should predict sequence of amino acids in all the proteins it produces