Exam 18: Genomics: Genetics From a Whole-Genome Perspective

Previously unidentifiable microorganisms have now been identified through ______.

In a simple bioinformatics exercise, students are asked to locate the beginning of an ORF among the six possible reading frames for a hypothetical DNA molecule. The first step in their process should involve looking for what sequence?

Which type of sequencing involves first creating a physical map?

When authors discuss whole-genome-wide examination of genes, to what do they refer?

Suppose a geneticist sequences a specific gene region in two species, A and B, previously known to be closely related. He specifically wants to see which of the two species is closer to an ancestral species. The sequence comparison showed that this region in species B has an extra intron, unlike other near relatives, but that otherwise A and B are virtually the same for this region. Based on this data alone, he could reason that which species was more likely ancestral?

If an entire genome is fragmented and then a large number of pieces are sequenced, the approach is known as the ________ approach.

Now that small molecular-level deletions and subtle chromosomal rearrangements can be discovered using advanced cytogenetic techniques and microarrays, disorders whose causes had not previously been known can have their basis identified. However, since most of these are not widely publicized, being individually rare, it has been difficult to identify patients with shared chromosomal abnormalities who share phenotypic features. A new database, known as DECIPHER, is now available to search for patients with like phenotypes and/or like chromosomal abnormalities. If you are the clinical geneticist who has a patient whose data is entered into this database, suggest three or more ways using this database can benefit your patient or your field in general.

Scientists studying the causes of a type of progressive hearing loss known as otosclerosis want to identify the genetic contribution to the disorder. By which of the following are they most likely to find a causative gene or genes?

Groups of genes that are evolutionarily related are called _____.

When Warnecke and colleagues were looking for genes that are involved in the digestion of lignocellulose by termites, they needed genes __________.

Recombination between two Alu elements results in deletions. In humans these have often been associated with specific disorders. In a recent study, researchers compared Alu recombination-mediated deletions of humans and chimpanzees. They identified 492 human-specific deletions of this type. Why is this finding important?

If a gene product is not a protein but a noncoding RNA, the sequence might be initially hypothesized from comparative genomics but must be confirmed how?

In the 2009 article "Genomic Footprints of a Cryptic Plastic Endosymbiosis in Diatoms" (Science 324: 1724-26), Moustafa et al. described their search for possible gene transfer from organelles to the nucleus in diatom genomes. They assumed that diatomic plastids came from red algae. However, they found that most were from green algae. Which is most likely?

The process of finding the location of genes and functional (e.g., regulatory)sequences and their functions within a genome sequence is called ________.