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The genome of an organism (encoded by the genomic DNA) is the (biological) information of heredity which is passed from one generation of organism to the next. That genome is transcribed to produce various RNAs, which are necessary for the function of the organism.
DNA can be copied very easily and accurately because each piece of DNA can direct the assembly of a new copy of its information. This is because DNA is made of two strands that pair together like the two sides of a zipper. The nucleotides are in the center, like the teeth in the zipper, and pair up to hold the two strands together.
New sequencing technologies, such as massive parallel sequencing have also opened up the prospect of personal genome sequencing as a diagnostic tool, as pioneered by Manteia Predictive Medicine. A major step toward that goal was the completion in 2007 of the full genome of James D. Watson, one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA. [20]
The total length of the human reference genome does not represent the sequence of any specific individual, nor does it represent the sequence of all of the DNA found within a cell. The human reference genome only includes one copy of each of the paired, homologous autosomes plus one copy of each of the two sex chromosomes (X and Y).
Written Definitions: Each glossary entry has a written definition that has been reviewed for clarity and accuracy by teams of science educators and genetic researchers. All of the definitions were written by the same Ph.D.-level science writer for consistency and accuracy. Illustrations:
DNA is a long polymer made from repeating units called nucleotides. [6] [7] The structure of DNA is dynamic along its length, being capable of coiling into tight loops and other shapes. [8] In all species it is composed of two helical chains, bound to each other by hydrogen bonds.
The DNA sequence assembly alone is of little value without additional analysis. [9] Genome annotation is the process of attaching biological information to sequences, and consists of three main steps: [68] identifying portions of the genome that do not code for proteins; identifying elements on the genome, a process called gene prediction, and
Gene structure is the organisation of specialised sequence elements within a gene.Genes contain most of the information necessary for living cells to survive and reproduce. [1] [2] In most organisms, genes are made of DNA, where the particular DNA sequence determines the function of the gene.