Week 02
<My own definition of life, gene, genome, genomics and sequencing>
20141458 이윤영
- What is life?
In my opinion, life is something that has three major properties. First, it has boundary that divide its own from the outside. For instance human body is separated from the outside environments. Second, Life has nucleic acid molecule that include genetic information. In this definition viruses can be included in life. Third, life can preserve and pass on the genetic molecule to next generation. The following is definition of life from Wikipedia.
“The definition of life is controversial. The current definition is that organisms maintain homeostasis, are composed of cells, undergo metabolism, can grow, adapt to their environment, respond to stimuli, and reproduce.”
- What is gene?
I think gene is a certain portion of DNA that can be passed on to the offspring. A gene is a basic unit of heredity. Also, a gene contains DNA sequence that encodes certain material which composes of organism or maintains biological mechanisms.
- What is genome?
I think genome is entire gene sequence of an organism. Genome includes every gene sequences which encode all the material compose the organism and maintain organism.
The term genome was created in 1920 by Hans Winkler, professor of botany at the University of Hamburg, Germany. The Oxford Dictionary suggests the name is a blend of the words gene and chromosome. Hans Winkler said, “I propose the expression Genom for the haploid set, which, together with the pertinent protoplasm, specifies thee material foundation of the species…”
- What is genomics?
Genomics is a study that examines and analyzes genome with several techniques such as sequencing, assembly annotation. Also, there are several research areas of genomics. For example, there is functional genomics, structural genomics, epigenomics and metagenomics.
- What is sequencing?
In biology, sequencing is techniques that detect primary sequence of macromolecules such as DNA. There are several ways of sequencing DNA. For example, next generation sequencing, illumine sequencing, iron torrent next generation sequencing etc.
