A gene from one organism will often work in another organism, because most genes are widely conserved in evolution. Old genes can be recognized in new genomes.
A portion of DNA can be sequenced when it is turned into a bacterial artificial chromosome, but these then need to be combined to get the complete sequence.
A portion of DNA can be sequenced when it is turned into a yeast artificial chromosome, but these then need to be combined to get the complete sequence.
The base sequences of DNA need genetic maps to refer to. The genes involved are usually identified and linked to a role from similar genes in other species.
The base sequences of DNA offer valuable information to students of evolution, but will be even more important to medical science, identifying new drug targets.
Similar-looking species may be distinguished by DNA fingerprinting, which can reveal differences in species which have converged on a common external form.
The information gathered in genomics work can be applied through bioinformatics, which is a new science that involves processing raw data to information.
Genetic manipulation may lead in the future to the production of safe vaccines being included in plants that humans can eat to gain immunity to a disease.
The Human Genome Project was set up to sequence all of the human genome, and to identify the functions of the various genes as they were identified.
The hunt for single nucleotide polymorphisms is opening up many new ways of studying genomics, because it sheds light on the ways genes work.
This file is http://members.ozemail.com.au/~macinnis/scifun/splatsgenomics.htm, first created on February 16, 2008. Last recorded revision (well I get lazy and forget sometimes!) was on February 16, 2008.