Comparative Genomics
Comparative Genomics
What is comparative genomics?
Comparative genomics is a research field of biology that compares the genomic features of different organisms. Whole or large parts of genomes are compared in order to understand not only similar and different features but also evolutionary relationships between organisms. Common characteristics of two organisms often be encoded in sequence that is conserved between them. Therefore, comparative genomic approaches can be used for aligning, finding orthologs in the aligned sequence, and checking existence of conserved sequence between organisms.
Where comparative genomics is applied?
The theoretical base of comparative genomics is evolutionary theory, and the comparative genomics enrich and develop the theory of evolution. Two creatures which share a recent common ancestor, the genome difference between them have evolved from ancestors’ genome. The closer the two organisms on the evolutionary divergence, the higher their genome correlation is.
Which techniques are used for studying comparative genomics?
From the large-scale genomic database, computational tools for analysis of sequences and complement of genomes are quickly generated. Internet-based genome database provides platforms to study genomic sequences, integrating all sequence-based biological information on genomic regions.
Refrences
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_genomics
- Ellegren, H. (2008). Comparative genomics and the study of evolution by natural selection. Mol Ecol. 17(21):4586-96.