Genome annotation is the process of tagging sections of DNA with information about genetic data. It involves sequencing, automatic and manual annotation, and can involve comparing segments of different organisms. Researchers can share data and use annotations to develop theories about genome function.
Genome annotation tags sections of a genome with information about the genetic data it contains. This is part of the process of genome projects, where the goal is not just to sequence the DNA of a target organism, but to understand what it does and how it works. Researchers can conduct annotations in their labs and can share data with other scientists to pool resources and information. There are online databases that are open to the public, and some even allow members of the public to submit their own annotations.
The first step in genome annotation is sequencing, in which researchers determine the order of amino acids in an organism’s DNA. Sequencing a whole genome takes a long time, and it’s common for scientists to start annotating before the genome has been decoded. With a section of sequenced DNA in hand, a researcher can start annotating. Scientists can notice where genes seem to start and stop by paying attention to the distinctive strands of DNA that contain information about genome function.
Computers are capable of making some annotations on the genome by themselves. They can look for known patterns, such as strings of amino acids that appear at the beginning and end of genes. In automatic annotation, the computer can add notes to different sections of a DNA string to provide information about it. It is also possible to compare segments of different organisms to look for variance which could provide important information about the species as a whole.
Manual genome annotation involves physical review of the DNA. Many researchers use computers to view information and mark it up, allowing them to enter it into databases as they work. In some cases, a manual review after the automatic annotation may be required to ensure that the computer gets the correct information. This can be a painstaking process, and mistakes do happen, which is why researchers like to pool databases. If an annotation doesn’t match others on the same section of DNA, people can evaluate the information to determine what happened and correct the error.
It is not always possible to determine what a gene does during the genome annotation process. Scientists can tag genes and separate them from other components of the genome, such as non-coding DNA like repeats. This information can be used in research as people develop theories about different segments of the genome. They can add to annotations to annotate the function of a gene.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
