Key Area 5
(a) The Genome & Genome Sequencing
In KA5a, we consider what is meant by "the genome" and explore the world of bioinformatics. Work through "Something to Read" and then move on to cover at least one other activity before your in-class lesson.
Something to Read...
Open the document below and read the mandatory course notes provided by SQA for this Key Area. You may wish to use your home learning time to copy these notes into a jotter or choose a digital presentation format that suits your learning style.
Something to Watch...
Definitely one to watch on this topic - this is an excellent TED talk on genome sequencing.
Something to look at...
This diagram shows a karyotype to a male human. The 23 pairs of homologous chromosomes are pictured.
This diagram provides a timeline for the Human Genome Project. By 2003, 13 years after its conception, the human genome project achieved its goal.
This project revealed that around 2% of the human genome encoded proteins leading to the idea that the rest was "junk" DNA.
Genome analysis using bioinformatics revealed that this so-called "junk" DNA was not junk at all. Around 80% of the genome could be functional in some capacity, e.g. regulatory sequences.
Computer programs can be used for bioinformatics - in this image, we can see an alignment of 2 genomes from different organisms - an archaeal species called Sulfolobus solfataricus and the human genome. This reveals that a DNA repair protein found in an extremophile is also present in humans. This is useful in phylogenetic analysis for determining the inter-relatedness of species over the course of evolution
You are now ready for your in-class lesson on the genome and genome sequencing. Remember to bring any questions or queries with you.
Click here if you are ready to move onto pharmacogenetics.
