3.8.3 Using genome projects

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 the cell’s DNA / genome)

What is genome sequencing and 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

In simpler organisms this means the proteome can be determined

What have sequencing projects accomplished? (2)

- Have read the genomes of a range of organisms

- Such as through initiatives like The Human Genome Project

Describe how sequencing methods are changing

● They have become automated (so are faster, more cost-effective and can be done on a larger scale)

● They are continuously updated

How were sequencing projects conducted in the past? (2)

- Labour-intensive, expensive

- Can only be done on a small scale

Why is sequencing the genome of simpler organisms beneficial? (3)

- Allows for the assignment of proteins to each gene

- Creating a database called the proteome

- Easier due to less non-coding DNA

How can determining the genome of a pathogen could allow vaccines to be developed (2)

Could identify the pathogen’s proteome

So could identify potential antigens (proteins that stimulate an immune response) to use in the vaccine

Apart from vaccines what are some other potential applications of genome sequencing projects

• Identification of genes / alleles associated with genetic diseases / cancers

  • New targeted drugs / gene therapy can be developed

  • Can screen patients, allowing early prevention / personalised medicine

• Identification of species and evolutionary relationships

• identify introns and exons

Explain why the genome cannot be directly translated into the proteome in complex organisms

● Presence of non-coding DNA that control when specific genes are turned on or off (eg. introns within genes do not code for polypeptides)

● Presence of regulatory genes (which regulate expression of other genes, eg. by coding for miRNA)

What was the goal of the Human Genome Project? (1)

To determine the sequence of bases in the human genome