Human Genome

Human Genome

The complete set of genetic information of a human, consisting of about 3 billion base pairs of DNA.

Base Pairs

The building blocks of DNA, where two nucleotides bond together, consisting of coding genes and non-coding sequences.

Chromosomes

Structures that organize and contain DNA; humans have 24 chromosomes (22 autosomes plus X and Y sex chromosomes).

Human Genome Project

An initiative aimed at sequencing all 3 billion base pairs of human DNA, completed in 2003, providing a reference sequence.

Reference Sequence

A map created by the Human Genome Project that serves to understand the genetic blueprint of humans.

ENCODE Project

Encyclopedia of DNA Elements, began in 2012 to study the functions of the human genome.

Gene Regulation

The process of controlling the expression of genes; recently found that 80% of the genome is involved in this.

Regulatory Sequences

DNA segments that control the expression of genes, acting as switches for when and how genes are turned on or off.

Proteome

The entire set of proteins expressed by an organism's genome; varies from cell to cell and can change over time.

Coding Genes

Genes that encode proteins and RNA molecules, approximately 20,000 to 22,000 in the human genome.

Non-Coding Sequences

Regions of DNA that do not encode proteins but may have regulatory functions.

Introns

Non-coding sections of a gene that are transcribed into RNA but are removed during RNA processing.

RNA

A molecule that plays essential roles in coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.

Protein Binding Sites

Specific locations on DNA where proteins bind to regulate gene expression; over 4 million identified by the ENCODE project.

Genetic Blueprint

The complete set of instructions for building and maintaining an organism, contained within its genome.