Using genome projects

Question 1

What is the aim of genome projects?

Answer 1

• to map the DNA base sequences making up the
  genes of an organism, to then map those onto the individual chromosomes of that organism.

Question 2

What is a genome?

Answer 2

• complete map of the DNA in a cell/organism

Question 3

What is a proteome?

Answer 3

• all the proteins produced in a given cell type (cellular proteome) or organism (complete proteome)

Question 4

What do genome projects create?

Answer 4

• a genome and proteome at a given time, under specific conditions

Question 5

How is genome projects done?

Answer 5

• Via Bioinformatics – using computer algorithms to collect, store and interpret biological data

Question 6

Describe the method of genome project

Answer 6

• DNA is cut into many small sections and computer algorithms help align overlapping
  segments to assemble the genome.

Question 7

Knowledge of the proteome of organisms like bacteria has a number of applications, including the development of vaccines (through identification of antigens) & production of biofuels and pollutant ‘cleaners’ (through researching bacteria that withstand extreme
conditions). Suggest and explain why determining the proteome of simple organisms is relatively easy?

Answer 7

1. Most prokaryotes have just one, circular piece of DNA that is not associated with histones
2. There are no introns (non-coding portions) in the DNA, typical of eukaryotic cells, so it’s easier to predict the amino acid sequence of any protein

Question 8

The Human Genome Project of 2003 is a testimony to what can be achieved in mapping DNA sequences. Explain why determining the genome and proteome of complex organisms
like humans, however, has been a relatively complex thing to do?

Answer 8

1. The genome consists of much more DNA, much of which is non-coding. Introns need to be identified and removed from a base sequence
   before predicting an amino acid sequence that will be formed.
2. Regulatory DNA, e.g., promoter regions need to be identified, as these can pinpoint the start of a gene. Different cells produce different
   transcription factors, so working out which proteins will be produced in any given cell is difficult.
3. Question over which sample to use for mapping, as all individuals (except identical twins) will have different DNA base sequences