The genome is all the DNA in a cell, including in the mitochondria and chromosomes. It contains 46 bundles of DNA called chromosomes, which give instructions for building and maintaining cells. The Human Genome Project sequenced and mapped all genes in the human body, allowing researchers to examine the complete map of what it takes to build a human being. Comparative genomics compares genome sequences of different organisms to identify differences and similarities, helping researchers learn more about how human genes work and fight human diseases. Studying the genome raises moral questions about evolution, gender, race, identity, and what it means to be human.
A genome is defined as all the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) found within a cell. This includes the DNA in the mitochondria and the chromosomes within the cell nucleus. DNA carries the instructions for building and maintaining the cells that make up each person. The complete set of instructions is called a genome.
Many people wonder about the purpose of the genome. It contains 46 bundles of DNA called chromosomes: 23 from the person’s mother and 23 from the person’s father. Chromosomes give the education that allows a single cell to develop from an embryo to an adult with over 100 trillion cells. DNA also instructs cells how to respond to various stimuli throughout a person’s life, such as responding to germs, pollutants and foods. DNA forms a twisted double helix made up of about 3 billion pairs of nucleotides: adenosine, cytosine, thymine and guanine.
The four nucleotides that make up DNA make each person’s genome unique. Also, the way nucleotides are put together creates specific genes and tells the cell how to make certain proteins. Thousands and thousands of proteins are needed to build a human being, and each genome contains approximately 20,500 genes.
The Human Genome Project was an international research project. The goal was to sequence and map all genes in the human body. It was completed in 2003 and has given researchers the chance to examine the complete map of what it takes to build a human being, from a genetic point of view. There are some small gaps; however, until researchers can invent new technologies, these gaps will remain empty.
New research projects are constantly underway regarding the genome. Scientists are now excited about comparative genomics. Comparative genomics has compared the genome sequences of different organisms, such as humans, mice, yeasts and monkeys. By comparing the human genome with the genomes of other species, researchers are able to identify both differences and similarities. The goal is to help researchers learn more about how human genes work and thus help fight human diseases.
As with many scientific research projects, studying the genome can raise some moral questions. As researchers learn more about evolution from studying humans, this could influence views on gender and race. It can also lead to new factors to be considered regarding identity and what it means to be human and raise social, moral, psychological and ethical questions for both present and future generations.
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