Genomics is the study of genomes and a genome is the complete genetic code of an organism. More specifically, a genome is the collection of every gene found in each of the chromosome that a given organism has.
The study of a genome can be divided into three general categories: (1) Structural genomics, which focuses in genome sequencing and genome assembly, (2) Functional genomics, studies the function of the genes, and (3) Comparative genomics, comparing the genomes of two related species and how they have evolved.
One famous genomic study was the Human Genome Project which lasted more than ten years. A scientist named Craig Venture was one of the first to sequence the human genome. The human genome project was a very important genome study directed by Francis Collins.
The importance of this project was to discover every single gene in the human DNA and determine the exact genetic code of the human being.
With this information now being available since 2003 it is possible for other scientists and research institutes to study a gene of interest and discover what are the causes for genetic diseases.
Acquiring the human genome sequence was a great milestone in the human history, comparable to discovery of DNA structure and landing on the Moon. However, its impact has not been to the fullest yet. What are the major impacts so far?
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