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Modern Genetic Analysis
12. Genomics
Key Concepts

Genomics is the molecular characterization of whole genomes.
Most eukaryotic genomes contain a set of unique genes plus repetitive elements such as gene families and tandem and dispersed nonfunctional elements.
The number of repetitive elements varies from individual to individual.
Genomic analysis begins by using several different techniques to assign genes to specific chromosomes.
The second level of analysis is low-resolution chromosome mapping, based mainly on meiotic recombination analysis. In analysis of humans, special cell hybrids also can be used.
Repetitive DNA variation has provided numerous heterozygous molecular marker loci for use in high-resolution recombination mapping.
The highest level of resolution in genomic mapping analysis is physical mapping of cloned DNA fragments.
The arrangement of cloned DNA fragments into overlapping sets is facilitated by special molecular procedures for tagging the clones.
Ultimately, whole chromosomal and genomic sequences can be obtained by sequencing members of the overlapping clone set.
Genomics provides an information base for isolating specific genes of interest, including human disease genes.
Functional genomics attempts to understand the broad sweep of genome function at different developmental stages and under different environmental conditions.

© 1999 by W. H. Freeman and Company. All rights reserved.