In classic genetics, the traditional approach was to find a gene product and then try to identify the gene itself. In molecular genetics, the reverse has been done by identifying genes purely on the basis of their position in the genome with no knowledge whatsoever of the gene product. This revolutionary approach is reverse genetics.
Reverse genetics is an approach to discovering the function of a gene by analyzing the phenotypic effects of specific gene sequences obtained by DNA sequencing.
Through genetic analyses, the function of genes is investigated by studying organisms where gene function is altered. In classical forward genetic screening, individuals are treated with mutagens to induce DNA lesions and mutants with a phenotype of interest are sought. After a mutant is found, the gene mutated is identified through standard molecular techniques. Detailed studies of the mutant phenotype coupled with molecular analyses of the gene allows elucidation of the gene's function. Forward genetics has been responsible for our understanding of many biological processes and is an excellent method for identifying genes that function in a particular process.In reverse genetics, the functional study of a gene starts with the gene sequence rather than a mutant phenotype.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT GENES
-> Genes are the units of instruction that the cells of the human body use to carry out their functions.
-> The chemical language in which genes are written is called DNA.
-> There are approximately 23,000 genes in the human genome.
-> A genome is the total compliment of genes for an organism.
-> Gene is the structural unit of inheritance in living organisms.
-> Each gene consists of a specific sequence of DNA building blocks called nucleotides.
-> The scientific study of inheritance is genetics.
-> Genes govern both the structure and metabolic functions of the cells, and thus of the entire organism and, when located in reproductive cells, they pass their information to the next generation.
-> The chemical language in which genes are written is called DNA.
-> There are approximately 23,000 genes in the human genome.
-> A genome is the total compliment of genes for an organism.
-> Gene is the structural unit of inheritance in living organisms.
-> Each gene consists of a specific sequence of DNA building blocks called nucleotides.
-> The scientific study of inheritance is genetics.
-> Genes govern both the structure and metabolic functions of the cells, and thus of the entire organism and, when located in reproductive cells, they pass their information to the next generation.
IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT DNA
-> DNA is found in all living things.
-> The structure of DNA can be assumed to a twisted ladder.
-> There are many conformations of DNA: A-DNA, B-DNA, and Z-DNA are the only ones found in nature.
-> Almost all the cells in our body have DNA with the exception of red blood cells.
-> nuclear DNA is DNA found in the nucleus of cells.
-> Humans have 46 chromosomes.
-> There’s a copy of our entire DNA sequence in every cell of our body with one exception.
-> Our entire DNA sequence is called a genome.
-> There’s an estimated 3 billion DNA bases in our genome.
-> A complete 3 billion base genome would take 3 gigabytes of storage space.
-> Genes are made of DNA.
-> Genes are pieces of DNA passed from parent to offspring that contain hereditary information.
-> DNA tests can help us understand our risk of disease.
-> The structure of DNA can be assumed to a twisted ladder.
-> There are many conformations of DNA: A-DNA, B-DNA, and Z-DNA are the only ones found in nature.
-> Almost all the cells in our body have DNA with the exception of red blood cells.
-> nuclear DNA is DNA found in the nucleus of cells.
-> Humans have 46 chromosomes.
-> There’s a copy of our entire DNA sequence in every cell of our body with one exception.
-> Our entire DNA sequence is called a genome.
-> There’s an estimated 3 billion DNA bases in our genome.
-> A complete 3 billion base genome would take 3 gigabytes of storage space.
-> Genes are made of DNA.
-> Genes are pieces of DNA passed from parent to offspring that contain hereditary information.
-> DNA tests can help us understand our risk of disease.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of biology that involves the use of living things in engineering, technology, medicine, etc.It is the use of micro-organisms and biological processes in industrial production.
Biotechnology draws on the pure biological sciences (genetics, microbiology, animal cell culture, molecular biology, biochemistry,embryology, cell biology).Bio-Technology is a research oriented science, a combination of Biology and Technology.
It covers a wide variety of subjects like Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology,Chemistry and Engineering.
There are many applications of biotechnology
such as developing various medicines, vaccines and diagnostics, increasing productivity, improving energy production and conservation.
Biotechnology draws on the pure biological sciences (genetics, microbiology, animal cell culture, molecular biology, biochemistry,embryology, cell biology).Bio-Technology is a research oriented science, a combination of Biology and Technology.
It covers a wide variety of subjects like Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology,Chemistry and Engineering.
There are many applications of biotechnology
such as developing various medicines, vaccines and diagnostics, increasing productivity, improving energy production and conservation.
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is the application of information technology and computer science to the field of molecular biology. Its primary use has been in genomics and genetics.
The primary goal of bioinformatics is to increase the understanding of biological processes.Bioinformatics was applied in the creation and maintenance of a database to store biological information at the beginning of the "genomic revolution", such as nucleotide and amino acid sequences.
SO Bioinformatics is the application of computer technology to the management of biological information. Computers are used to gather, store, analyze and integrate biological and genetic information which can then be applied to gene-based drug discovery and development.There are three important sub-disciplines within bioinformatics: the development of new algorithms and statistics with which to assess relationships among members of large data sets; the analysis and interpretation of various types of data including nucleotide and amino acid sequences, protein domains, and protein structures; and the development and implementation of tools that enable efficient access and management of different types of information.
The primary goal of bioinformatics is to increase the understanding of biological processes.Bioinformatics was applied in the creation and maintenance of a database to store biological information at the beginning of the "genomic revolution", such as nucleotide and amino acid sequences.
SO Bioinformatics is the application of computer technology to the management of biological information. Computers are used to gather, store, analyze and integrate biological and genetic information which can then be applied to gene-based drug discovery and development.There are three important sub-disciplines within bioinformatics: the development of new algorithms and statistics with which to assess relationships among members of large data sets; the analysis and interpretation of various types of data including nucleotide and amino acid sequences, protein domains, and protein structures; and the development and implementation of tools that enable efficient access and management of different types of information.
Genome
A genome is one which is entirety of an organism's hereditary information.
The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA.It can be defined as the ordering of genes in a haploid set of chromosomes of a particular organism; the full DNA sequence of an organism.It is the complete genetic material of a living thing.
Humans and many other higher animals actually have two genomes, which together make up the total genome:
1) A chromosomal genome -- inside the nucleus of the cell in the familiar form of chromosomes.
2) A mitochondrial genome -- outside the nucleus in the cytoplasm of the cell,usually in the form of one round chromosome (the mitochondrial chromosome)
Full genome sequencing is a laboratory process that determines the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome at a single time.Full genome sequencing would have been nearly impossible before the advent of the microprocessor, computers, and the Information Age.Full genome sequencing should not be confused with DNA profiling.
The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA.It can be defined as the ordering of genes in a haploid set of chromosomes of a particular organism; the full DNA sequence of an organism.It is the complete genetic material of a living thing.
Humans and many other higher animals actually have two genomes, which together make up the total genome:
1) A chromosomal genome -- inside the nucleus of the cell in the familiar form of chromosomes.
2) A mitochondrial genome -- outside the nucleus in the cytoplasm of the cell,usually in the form of one round chromosome (the mitochondrial chromosome)
Full genome sequencing is a laboratory process that determines the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome at a single time.Full genome sequencing would have been nearly impossible before the advent of the microprocessor, computers, and the Information Age.Full genome sequencing should not be confused with DNA profiling.
Stem cells
Stem cells are cells found in most multi-cellular organisms.They are characterized by the ability to renew themselves through mitotic cell division and differentiating into a diverse range of specialized cell types.
Stem cells can be grown and transformed into specialized cells with characteristics consistent with cells of various tissues such as muscles or nerves through cell culture.They have a very good potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth.
When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential either to remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.
Stem cell treatments are a type of genetic medicine that introduce new cells into damaged tissue in order to treat a disease or injury.The ability of stem cells to self-renew and give rise to subsequent generations that can differentiate offers a large potential to culture tissues that can replace diseased and damaged tissues in the body, without the risk of rejection and side effects.There are a potential treatments like in Brain damage,Cancer,Spinal cord injury...etc.
Stem cells can be grown and transformed into specialized cells with characteristics consistent with cells of various tissues such as muscles or nerves through cell culture.They have a very good potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth.
When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential either to remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.
Stem cell treatments are a type of genetic medicine that introduce new cells into damaged tissue in order to treat a disease or injury.The ability of stem cells to self-renew and give rise to subsequent generations that can differentiate offers a large potential to culture tissues that can replace diseased and damaged tissues in the body, without the risk of rejection and side effects.There are a potential treatments like in Brain damage,Cancer,Spinal cord injury...etc.
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