Genetics and Genomics > Genetic Variation Between Species > Flashcards

Genetic Variation Between Species Flashcards

Identify features shared between the human genome and genomes of model organisms & pathogens Infer evolutionary relationships between organisms based on genome sequence comparison Describe the mechanism by which genomes can change, and how it can result in evolution Describe the major databases cataloguing human genetic variation & be able to find relative allele frequencies of polymorphic sites Appreciate the importance of comparative genomics in modern medicine (2 cards)

What are the main differences between DNA in different species?

The sequence differs, but the main features of the DNA is conserved, such as nucleotides, methylation, wrapped around octamers, separation by introns, double helix. In higher eukaryotes, there is more ncDNA and it has different functions.

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How can we compare genomes?

We can use genome browsers - bioinformatic tools. They allow us to detect conserved sequences and measure alignment (mismatches, exact, gaps). Similar sequences in different genomes are called orthologs. Conserved regions are generally very important. We can construct phylogenetic trees to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships between organisms.

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