What's in our Genomes Flashcards
What percent of the human genome is completed of protein coding genes?
1-2% – 1.5% codes for proteins
***It feels like there should be a lot more of genome BUT protein coding genes is really a small portion of the genome
- genome has very few protein coding sequences
- Very few genes in genome
- Small fraction of genome that makes proteins (surprising we think it should be more)
Gene
Segment of DNA that actually codes for proteoms
Central Dogma
Flow of information from DNA –> RNA –> Protein
Transcription
DNA –> RNA
Translation
RNA –> Protein
Genes in genome
Gene make up a small portion of our genome – 2% of genome
***26,500 genes in human genome – there are a lot of genes BUT they make up a small portion of the genome
What Makes up the genome
2% genes
26% Introns
44% Transposable Elements
16% Repetative Sequences
12% Unknown
Amount of Introns in genome
26% – higher volume than genes
Introns
Parts of DNA that are transcribed THEN removed from RNA transcription to make mature RNA
**Part of RNA that is removed
**After removed = get mature RNA
What is the purpose of Introns?
- Alternative Splicing (Especially in higher Eukrayotes)
- Regulation
- To give extra space to protein genes (protects protein coding genes because it makes it less likely that a mutation will be in the protein coding genes
Introns protection
Give extra space to protein genes (protects protein coding genes because it makes it less likely that a mutation will be in the protein coding genes
Introns Regulation
Control of Intron splicing rates can regulate gene expression
- If have transcription ready and hold back on splicing = makes different rates of when genes are expressed
Where is alternative splicing found
Especially used for higher Eukaryotes
Alternative Splicing
Reuse DNA – 1 gene = encodes different proteins that can do different things -
***Can create different proteins from one gene
Alternative Splicing (process)
Body can choose which introns to remove – removes different introns/exons = get similar proteins BUT different
***Can keep some exons or remove others = creates different proteins during splicing process
When in process does splicing occur
Between transcription and translation
Transcription –> Splicing –> Translation
What makes up majority of genome?
Transposable elements = held together by Transposable elements
Transposable Elements (overall)
Selfish Jumping genes – copy themselves and jump to another part of the genome
- Selfish genetic elements OR genomic parasites
***Discovered by Barbra
Purpose of Transposable elements
Unknown BUT likely NOT junk DNA
***Before they thought it was Junk BUT professor does not think that they are junk
Possibilities:
1. Regulatory
2. Evolutionary
***NOT JUNK – we adapted them over time for a purpose
Common Types of Transposable elements
SINEs/LINE
Regulatory Transposable elements
SINE TE – found upstream if ISL1 alters gene expression
SINE TE
Regulatory Transposable elements – found upstream of ISL1 – alters gene expression
***As SINE TE moves = allows gene to be expressed or not
Upstream
In front
Evolutionary Purpose of Transposable elements
Idea = Transposable elements have evolutionary purposes – helps us evolve
Example – During splicing you might have Transposable elements as part of exon that is then translated to proteins = get novel proteins
Why should Transposable elements be Junk
Why would we still have them after evolution –> why would we keep them in and have to replicate more fo DNA than we need