What is genomics?
Genomics is a field which existed before the completion of the sequences of genomes, but in the crudest of forms, for example the oft-re-referenced estimate of 100 000 genes in the human genome derived from a(n) (in)famous piece of “back of an envelope” genomics, guessing the weight of chromosomes and the density of the genes they bear. Genomics is any attempt to analyze or compare the entire genetic complement of a species or species (plural). It is, of course possible to compare genomes by comparing more-or-less representative subsets of genes within genomes.
Genomics is the study of the collective genetic material in an organism. This scientific discipline is focused on sequencing the DNA in an organism to form a complete picture, and then identifying specific genes in that sequence which could be of interest. Genomics got its start in the 1970s, when scientists first began genetic sequencing of simple organisms, and it really took off as a field in the 1980s and 1990s, with the advent of scientific equipment to assist researchers. By sequencing the entire DNA pattern of an organism, scientists can glean a great deal of information. Complete sequences can be compared, for example, to get more information about how creatures survive in different environments. A genetic sequence can also be used as a reference base for studying other members of the same species, and for identifying genetic defects, inherited conditions, and other matters of interest, such as the expression of proteins and the role of “junk” DNA in the body. In genomics, scie
• Genes carry information about physical and functional inheritance (DNA) = genetic instructions for making organisms • Genetics is the study of these genes to determine physical characteristics or roles in disease • The genome is an organism’s entire genetic material: complete DNA (30-40,000 genes in humans) Genes carry information about physical and functional inheritance vertically between generations. They are composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), arranged in the famous ‘double helix’, which carries the genetic instructions for making organisms. Although genes play a paramount role in the formation of the individual, they interact with various environmental factors in a complex manner to produce the final outcome. Genetics is the study of these genes, and specifically the study of single, or a small number of, genes to determine specific roles in diseases or individual physical characteristics. The genome refers to an organism’s entire genetic material, their complete set of DNA
Genomics is the study of complex sets of genes, how they are expressed in cells (what their level of activity is), and the role they play in biology. Another way to think about it is as a small network of genes and how they work together to influence the tumor’s biology and behavior. The Human Genome Project determined the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up DNA to identify approximately 25,000 genes of the human genome. Additional ongoing work remains to obtain the necessary knowledge that would allow genomic information to impact treatment planning for cancer. Actionable insight comes from understanding how these genes inter-relate and what those resulting functions are, in addition to our knowledge of their sequences or forms. As the study of genomics advances, the application of genomic information is expected to enhance the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of many different diseases, including cancer.
