| Antisense
oligonucleotides |
Single
stranded oligodeoxynucleotides directed against a particular
gene or mRNA which block transcription or translation
through sequence-specific hybridisation with targeted
gene sequences. |
| Array
|
A
precisely ordered arrangement of elements, allowing them
to be displayed and examined in parallel; a systematically
gridded pattern of DNA or protein on a solid surface to
facilitate mass screening. When miniaturised, also known
as 'microarrays' or 'chips'. |
| Bioinformatics |
The
use of computational resources, such as databases, to
analyse genes and genomes; the management and analysis
of biological information in genome databases. |
| Chips:
DNA (microarray) |
The
display of an array of oligonucleotides or cDNAs in a
miniaturised format on glass or silicon for parallel hybridisation
of DNA or mRNA samples for detection of DNA variation
or gene expression. |
| Comparative
genomics |
The
study of gene homologues in different organisms in order
to learn about function |
| Differential
display |
The
comparison of mRNA expression between different tissues. |
|
EST
|
Short
(100-500 bp) sequences generated from the ends of randomly
picked cDNA clones to provide tags for that clone; the
EST are then compared with the public sequence databases
to identify the gene they were derived from, allowing
the rapid production of a gene catalogue for that organism |
| Expression
profiling |
Analysis
of the expression of mRNA or proteins in cells, tissues
or organisms at different developmental stages, in disease,
during drug treatment, etc. |
| FISH |
Fluorescence
in situ hybridisation |
| Functional
genomics |
The
assignment of functions to genes and proteins identified
through genome sequencing projects; the development and
application of global (genome-wide or system-wide) experimental
approaches to assess gene function by making use of the
information and reagents provided by genome sequencing
and mapping. |
| Genome |
The
complete DNA sequence and genetic map of an organism. |
| Genomics |
The
mapping, sequencing and analysis of genomes. |
| MALDI-ToF |
Matrix
assisted laser desorption - time of flight mass spectrometer.
Widely used in proteomics projects to identify molecular
masses of peptides resulting from protein digestion (peptide
mass fingerprinting). |
| Metabolome |
The
entire complement of small molecular weight metabolites
in a cell |
| Orthologues |
Corresponding
genes in different species that perform the same molecular
function. |
| Paralogues |
Members
of a multigene family which have distinct but possibly
related functions. |
| Pharmacogenomics |
The
use of genome information to predict individual responses
to drug therapies (e.g. adverse drug reactions). |
| Post-translational
modification |
Proteins
in cells can be extensively modified, typical changes
being N- or C-terminal cleavages, glycosylation, phosphorylation,
sulphation, etc.; as a consequence there are many more
proteins in the proteome than there are genes in the genome |
| Proteome |
Literally
the 'proteins of the genome'. The complete set of proteins
that is expressed, and modified following expression,
by the entire genome in the lifetime of the cell or organism;
(alternatively) the complement of proteins expressed by
a cell at any one time. The proteome is much larger than
the number of genes in the genome due to splicing and
post-translational modification. |
| Proteomics
|
Study
of the expression and function of proteomes (q.v.). Classical
proteomics technology is represented by the combination
of 2D gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. |
| Ribozyme |
Catalytic
RNA |
| SAGE |
Serial
analysis of gene expression. |
| SNP
|
DNA
sequence variants (inherited single base changes) which
occur frequently throughout the human genome (1 in every
3-500 bp) and are used as markers in whole genome linkage
analysis. |
| Splicing |
The
process where an intron is excised from a pre-RNA and
the resulting exons are religated to form mRNA. |
| Structural
genomics |
The
interpretation of gene sequences as elements of protein
structure using computational analysis, prediction and
modelling; (also) the determination of 3-dimensional structures
of proteomes and the investigation of their biological
implications. |
| STS |
Sequenced
tagged site. A short genomic sequences that can be amplified
from DNA samples by PCR. |
| Transcriptome |
The
mRNA equivalent of proteome; the complete collection of
transcripts of the genome. |
