define genome?
the complete set of genes in a cell
define proteome?
the full range of proteins that a cell can produce (coded for by cell’s DNA/ genome)
what is genome sequencing? why is it important?
identifying the DNA base sequence of an organism’s genome
so amino acid sequences of proteins that derive from an organism’s genetic code can be determined
how could determining the genome of a pathogen allow vaccines to be developed?
could identify pathogen’s proteome so could identify potential antigens (proteins that stimulate an immune response) to use in the vaccine
what are some other potential applications of genome sequencing projects?
-identification of genes/ alleles associated with genetic diseases/ cancers so new drugs/ gene therapy can be developed, and we can screen patients which allows early prevention/ personalised medicine
-identification of species and evolutionary relationships
why can the genome not be directly translated into the proteome in complex organisms?
- presence of non-coding DNA (eg introns)
- presence of regulatory genes (which regulate expression of other genes)
describe how sequencing methods are changing?
they have been automated (faster, more cost-effective and can be done on larger scale)
they are continuously updated
