Genomics and Bioinformatics

Question 1

The Human Genome Project

Answer 1

-set out to study the human “genome” – the totality of an organism’s DNA
*birthed a field known as genomics
-began in 1990 under direction of James Watson
-3,000 scientists at 20 different centers in 6 countries
-competition from a privately funded project by Craig Venter at Celera Genomics caused it to be completed ahead of schedule
-draft published in 2001 – 96% of euchromatic region in the genome
-2003 – “completion”

Question 2

Whole Genome Sequencing

Answer 2

1. Genomic DNA cut with different restriction enzymes to create a series of overlapping fragments
2. Overlapping sequenced fragments aligned using computer programs to assemble an entire chromosome
3. Alignment of fragments based on identical DNA sequences creates an assembly of contiguous fragments

Question 3

Bioinformatics

Answer 3

use of computer software and mathematics applications to organize, share, and analyze data related to gene structure, gene sequence and expression, and protein structure and function

Question 4

BLAST

Answer 4

basic local alignment search tool
-can compare newly sequenced DNA to known sequences already stored

Question 5

Identity Value

Answer 5

sum of identical matches between aligned sequences divided by the total number of bases aligned

Question 6

Expect Value

Answer 6

based on # of matching sequences in the database that would be expected by chance (lower E = higher significance)