Using DNA sequencing

What is bioinformatics?

The development of the software used to analyse and organise raw biological data, e.g. algorithms or statistical tests to help us make sense of the data

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What is computational biology?

Using the data from bioinformatics to build theoretical models of biological systems, which can be used to predict what will happen in different circumstances

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What is an issue with using the genome analysis to identify diseases people are vulnerable to?

Its rare that a single gene can cause a certain disease, our genes work together with the environment to affect our physiology, physical characteristics and likelihood of developing certain diseases

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We can easily sequence the genomes of pathogens, what does this enable us to do with the information?

Find the source of infection, identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria ensuring we use the right AB, Track the progress of an outbreak and monitor potential epidemics, Develop new drugs and identify genetic markers used in vaccines

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What is DNA barcoding?

Each species has its unique genome and scientists identify species and sometimes even discover new species when identifying organisms DNA

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How can DNA sequencing be used to determine evolutionary relationships?

DNA sequences of different organisms can be compared because scientists can calculate the basic mutation rate and then workout how long ago it was since the 2 species diverged from a common ancestor

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What is proteomics?

The study of amino acid sequences of an organisms entire protein complement

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What are spliceosomes?

Enzyme complexes involved in pre-mRNA modification, spliceosomes join the exons that need to be translated together to give functional mature mRNA

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Spliceosomes may join the same exons in a variety of different ways, what can this lead to?

A single gene could produce several versions of functional mRNA meaning several different proteins and thus giving us different phenotypes

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What does the term 'modified protein' mean?

A protein that had been changed (lengthened or shortened) to form a different protein

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What is synthetic biology?

The design and construct of novel artificial biological pathways, organisms or devices, or the redesign of existing natural biological systems (e.g. genetic engineering)

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Name a few techniques in synthetic biology

Genetic engineering, Use of biological systems of parts of the systems in industrial context (e.g. production of drugs from microbes), The synthesis of new genes to replace faulty genes, synthesis of an entire new organism

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Scientists have developed new nucleotide bases which act very similar to normal bases and they can be incorporated into the main DNA of an organism, suggest a possible practical application for synthetic expansion of the genetic code

It increases genetic diversity, giving organisms a higher chance of surviving some diseases, in endangered species where there are few in the population, we can increase their genetic variation once more, reducing founder effect

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Using DNA sequencing

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