9.5 Genomics and Bioinformatics

Flashcards covering key concepts and vocabulary related to genomics and bioinformatics.

What is genomics?

Genomics is the study of genes, gene functions, and entire genomes.

What are the two main goals of the Human Genome Project?

1. To map and sequence all of the DNA base pairs of the human chromosomes. 2. To identify all of the genes within that sequence.

What technology allows scientists to study many genes at once?

DNA microarrays allow scientists to study many genes and their expression simultaneously.

What does bioinformatics refer to?

Bioinformatics is the use of computer databases to organize and analyze biological data.

How do scientists compare genomes?

Scientists compare genomes by sequencing DNA from different organisms and identifying similarities and differences in the DNA sequences.

What was an early method of gene sequencing developed in the 1970s?

The Sanger method.

How much of human DNA is similar to that of chimpanzees?

Humans and chimpanzees are identical in 98 to 99 percent of their DNA.

What is the estimated number of protein-coding genes in the human genome?

There are between 20,000 and 25,000 protein-coding genes in the human genome.

What can DNA microarrays help researchers compare?

DNA microarrays can compare gene expression in cancer cells with gene expression in healthy cells.

What is proteomics?

Proteomics is the study and comparison of all the proteins that result from an organism's genome.