Comparative Genomics and Proteomics

Abstract

Over the last decade, research in biology has undergone a qualitative transformation. Genome sequences, the bounded sets of information that guide biological development and function, lie at the heart of this revolution. The earlier reductionist approach to simplify complex biological systems has given way to an integrated approach dealing with the system as a whole, thanks to advances in various technologies. It is now possible to sequence, within a short time, entire genomes, which are the blue-prints, at the molecular level, for the complex workings of organisms. Genomes of more than 350 life-forms, including several mammals, have been sequenced, and many more are in the pipeline. The genomic sequence data is only the beginning, and to realize the full benefit of this data, the data has to be very skillfully processed and analysed. Comparative genomics is the study of relationships between the genomes. The broadly available genome sequences of human and a select set of additional organisms represent foundational information for biology and biomedicine. Embedded within this as-yet poorly understood code are the genetic instructions for the entire repertoire of cellular components, knowledge of which is needed to unravel the complexities of biological systems. Elucidating the structure of genomes and identifying the function of the myriad encoded elements will allow connections to be made between genomics and biology and will, in turn, accelerate the exploration of all realms of the biological sciences.