| Applications of Human Genome Project | The information generated from the HGP has been used to tackle human health issues with the end goal of finding cures for diseases
Scientists have noticed a correlation between changes in specific genes and the likelihood of developing certain inherited diseases
The mechanism which causes these inherited diseases to develop is not yet understood. It is being actively researched by thousands of scientists
For example, several genes within the human genome have been linked to increased risk of certain cancers
If an individuals BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are mutated then they are substantially more likely to develop breast cancer
There have also been specific genes linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease |
| Genome Sequencing Projects | A genome contains all of the genes within an organism
Advances in technology have allowed scientists to map and sequence the genes within an organism's genome
Genome sequencing can aid the understanding of gene function and interaction
Sequencing projects have read the genomes of a wide range of organisms from flatworms to humans
A genome project works by collecting DNA samples from many individuals of a species. These DNA samples are then sequenced and compared to create a reference genome
More than one individual is used to create the reference genome as one organism may have anomalies/mutations in their DNA sequence that are atypical of the species |
| Proteome | Following the success of sequencing the human genome scientists have now moved onto sequencing the human proteome
The proteome is all of the proteins that can be produced by a cell
Although there are roughly 25,000 genes within the genome there are many more proteins within the proteome. This may is due to processes such as alternative splicing and post-translational modification
Determining the genome of simpler organisms allows the sequences of the proteins that derive from the genetic code (the proteome) of the organism to be determined. This may have many applications, including the identification of potential antigens for use in vaccine production. |
| In complex organisms | In more complex organisms, the presence of non-coding DNA and of regulatory genes means that knowledge of the genome cannot easily be translated into the proteome. |
