WEEK 1 (Genomics, Bioinformatics & Proteomics)

Question 1

Why was the sequencing of the Human Genome project an enormous undertaking?

Answer 1

Due to its large size

Question 2

What are the key properties of the Human Genome Project?

Answer 2

• Officially began on October 1 1990
• A 13-year effort coordinated & funded by the US Department of Energy & National Institutes of Health
• Human DNA used was obtained from several volunteers but identity was no revealed

Question 3

What was the Human Genome Project?

Answer 3

The Human Genome Project was an international scientific research project with the goal of determining the base pairs that make up human DNA, and of identifying, mapping and sequencing all of the genes of the human genome from both a physical and a functional standpoint

Question 4

What were the goals of the Human Genome Project?

Answer 4

1) To obtain a genetic linkage map of the human genome
2) To obtain a physical map of the human genome
3) To obtain the DNA sequence of the entire human genome
4) To develop technology for the management of human genome information
5) To analyse the genomes of model organism
6) To develop programs focussed on understanding and addressing the ethical, legal and social implications of the results obtained from the Human Genome Project
7) To develop technological advances in genetic methodologies

Question 5

What is Genomics?

Answer 5

The study of genomes which studies the structure, function and evolution of genes and genomes

Question 6

What is Proteomics?

Answer 6

Identifies the set of proteins present in a cell under a given set of conditions and studies their functions and interactions

Question 7

What is Bioinformatics?

Answer 7

A specialised subfield of information technology that was created to develop hardware and software for processing nucleotide and protein data

Question 8

What is High-throughput sequencing?

Answer 8

The ability to rapidly sequence large amounts of DNA

Question 9

Describe how Fluorescence microscopy works with the DNA

Answer 9

1) Isolate genomic DNA and break into fragments and covalently attach OLIGONUCLEOTIDE ADAPTORS to the 5’ and 3’ ends of the DNA
2) Denature the DNA into SINGLE STRANDS and attach to beads via the red adaptors
3) Emulsify the beads so there is only one bead per droplet (the droplets also contain PCR reagents that amplify the DNA) & deposit the beads into a picotiter plate
4) Add sequencing reagents: PRIMERS, DNA POLYMERASE, ATP, SULFURYLASE, LUCIFERASE, APYRASE, ADENOSINE-5-PHOSPHOSULFATE & LUCIFERIN. Sequentially flow solutions containing A, T, C & G.
5) Light is detected by a camera in the sequencing machine. Unincorporated nucleotides and ATP are degraded by APYRASE.