Molecular Biology Basics in the “Omics” Era: Genes to Proteins

Abstract

This chapter attempts to summarize what is known regarding the organization and functional role of DNA and RNA in normal cell growth and differentiation that may be relevant to cancer cells. Information accruing over the last 15 years and particularly the last 5–10 years is emphasized but early discoveries important to the development of our current understanding are referenced. New technologies such as next generation DNA sequencing and its derivatives including ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, and chromosome conformation capture techniques along with huge collaborative projects including sequencing of the human genome, ENCODE, the Roadmap Epigenomics Program, and most recently the 4D Nucleome project are extending the ability of medical scientists to probe the organization of chromatin and through this determine the regulatory networks of specific cell types. While this chapter can only touch briefly on this broad range of topics it is hoped that it can provide a starting point for expanding understanding of the many opportunities as well as some of the potential pitfalls that are certain to arise in the growing field of cancer molecular testing.