Using Genome Projects

Question 1

What is the genome?

Answer 1

The entire genetic material of an organism in the nucleus of a cell

Question 2

What does sequencing a genome mean?

Answer 2

Identifying the exact DNA base sequence for all the DNA in a cell

Question 3

Give details about the methods being used to identify genomes of organisms:

Answer 3

The methods being used to sequence genomes are continuously being improved and has now become automated

Question 4

What does determining the genome of a simpler organism allow us to do?

Answer 4

Because simpler organisms (prokaryotes) do not contain introns, their genome can be used to determine the sequences of the proteins that are derived from the genetic code (the proteome) of the organism.

Question 5

What does determiningnthe genome of simpler organisms allow us to do?

Answer 5

Identification of potential antigens for use in vaccine production

Question 6

Why can the genome of more complex organisms not be used to directly translate the proteome?

Answer 6

Due to the presence of non-coding DNA (introns) and of regulatory genes