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Human Genome Sequencing and After |
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Human Genome Sequencing is complete – announcement was made by
the leaders of a Public Consortium of academic centres at the National
Institutes of Health in April, 2003. The project initiated in 1990 was
expected to take 15 yrs. It has been completed two years ahead of
schedule, thanks to automation and bioinformatics. The announcement was
timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the discovery of
the structure of DNA by Watson and Crick. The unfolding of human genome
with about 3 billion base pairs arrayed in 23 chromosomes costing about
$800 million, is exciting enough to push biology into Biotechnology with
great expectations in diagnostics, vaccines, new drugs, gene therapy and
cloning. It is interesting to note that only less than 5% of DNA with
30000 genes codes for proteins. More than 95% of DNA is non coding and
possibly involved in regulation of gene expression during development,
differentiation and adaptation to environment.
All humans have the same DNA to the extent of 99.9 percent, the
0.1% making the difference between the female and male, young and old,
intelligent and dullard, aggressive and mild, normal and disabled thus
emphasising the importance of
understanding of DNA organization, regulation of expression, suppression
and environmental adaptation. Comparative Genomics have shown that humans
share 98% of their genetic sequence with monkeys and 57% with cabbage. The
humble weed plant, Thale cross (Arabidopsis thaliana) has 30% of genes
with notable similarities to humans. A long and difficult path is ahead.
The genetic polymorphism, function of non coding DNA, regulation by
biomolecules, proteomics are the challenging areas in the coming years to
understand the nature and explain growth, differentiation, behavior and
environmental adaptation. July 1, 2023
Dr. B. C. Harinath
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Future event at JBTDRC |
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Workshop on “Medical Informatics & Biomedical Communication”(Sponsored
by Department of Biotechnology and in collaboration with ICMR) September 29 – October 1, 2023 For exposing Medical Teachers, Scientists & Postgraduate Students to the advancements in Bioinformatics, the Medical Informatics and Awareness & Utilization of Biomedical Communication Skills. Interesting Lectures, Demonstrations & Hands on Sessions will be conducted by the Eminent Experts in Bioinformatics. ·
Last Date: August 15,
2003 Click below for Contact:
Dr.
Satish Kumar, Officer-in-charge, Bioinformatics Centre, JB Tropical
Disease Research Centre, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram
(Wardha) – 442 102.
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