Doe Fundamentals Handbook Primer Genomics And Its Impact On Science And Society英文电子书.pdf

Genomics and Its Impact on Science and Society The Human Genome Project and Beyond U.S. Department of Energy Genome Programs: /hgmis A Primer ells are the fundamental working units Cof every living system. All the instructions needed to direct their activities are contained within the chemical DNA (deoxyri- bonucleic acid). DNA from all organisms is made up of the same chemical and physical components. The DNA sequence is the particular side-by- molecular machine side arrangement of bases along the DNA strand (e.g., ATTCCGGA). This order spells out the exact instructions required to create a particular organism with its own unique traits. The genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA. Genomes vary widely in size: the smallest known genome for a free-living organ- From Genes to Proteins ism (a bacterium) contains about 600,000 DNA base pairs, while human and mouse genomes have some 3 billion (see p. 3). Except for Although genes get a lot of attention, it’s the mature red blood cells, all human cells contain a proteins that perform most life functions and complete genome. even make up the majority of cellular structures. DNA in the human genome is arranged into Proteins are large, complex molecules made up of 24 distinct chromosomes—physically separate smaller subunits called amino acids. Chemical molecules that range in length from about 50 mil- properties that distinguish the 20 different amino lion to 250 million base pairs. A few types of major acids cause the protein chains to fold up into chromosomal abnormalities, including mis