Genomics
Genomics is the part of genetics which studies the genomes of organisms. This includes the entire DNA sequence of organisms and fine-scale genetic mapping. The field also includes studies of genes working together.[1] Examples are heterosis, epistasis, pleiotropy and other interactions between loci and alleles within the genome.
Genomics applies recombinant DNA, DNA sequencing methods, and bioinformatics to sequence, assemble, and analyze the function and structure of genomes. This is the complete set of DNA within a single cell of an organism).[2][3] In contrast, the investigation of the roles and functions of single genes is a primary focus of molecular biology or genetics and is a common topic of modern medical and biological research. Research of single genes unless it involves the entire genome.[4][5]
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has a somewhat broader definition:
- "The term "genomics" encompasses a broader scope of scientific inquiry associated technologies than when genomics was initially considered. A genome is the sum total of all an individual organism's genes. Thus, genomics is the study of all the genes of a cell, or tissue, at the DNA (genotype), mRNA (transcriptome), or protein (proteome) levels".[6]
Genomics Media
The number of genome projects has increased as technological improvements continue to lower the cost of sequencing. (A) Exponential growth of genome sequence databases since 1995. (B) The cost in US Dollars (USD) to sequence one million bases. (C) The cost in USD to sequence a 3,000 Mb (human-sized) genome on a log-transformed scale.
Overview of a genome project. First, the genome must be selected, which involves several factors including cost and relevance. Second, the sequence is generated and assembled at a given sequencing center (such as BGI or DOE JGI). Third, the genome sequence is annotated at several levels: DNA, protein, gene pathways, or comparatively.
The Sanger (chain-termination) method for DNA sequencing.
An ABI PRISM 3100 Genetic Analyzer. Such capillary sequencers automated early large-scale genome sequencing efforts.
Illumina Genome Analyzer II System. Illumina technologies have set the standard for high-throughput massively parallel sequencing.
Genome analysis tools in Integrated Microbial Genomes (v. 2.9) pipeline.
Argonne's Midwest Center for Structural Genomics deposits 1,000th protein structure
Environmental Shotgun Sequencing (ESS) is a key technique in metagenomics. (A) Sampling from habitat; (B) filtering particles, typically by size; (C) Lysis and DNA extraction; (D) cloning and library construction; (E) sequencing the clones; (F) sequence assembly into contigs and scaffolds.
References
- ↑ Pevsner, Jonathan (2009). Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-470-08585-1.
- ↑ National Human Genome Research Institute 2010. A brief guide to genomics. Genetics vs. Genomics Fact Sheet | NHGRI.
- ↑ Klug, William S. et al 2011. Concepts of genetics. 10th ed, Cummings. ISBN 978-0-321-72412-0
- ↑ National Human Genome Research Institute 2010. FAQ about genetic and genomic science. Genetics vs. Genomics Fact Sheet | NHGRI
- ↑ Culver, Kenneth W. & Mark A. Labow 2002. Genomics. In Richard Robinson (ed) Genetics. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-02-865606-9
- ↑ "EPA Interim genomics policy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2012-09-09.