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Focus on Genomics
Definitions
Standards of Practice
Mini-glossary
Various terms are in use within the disciplines associated with genetic and molecular research. Following are definitions or clarifications of the most frequently used terms:
- Genomics
- The study of genomes, genes and their function. Not only the identification of the sequence of bases but also the understanding of the functions of genes. Recent advances in genomics are bringing about a revolution in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of disease, including the complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Genomics is also stimulating the discovery of breakthrough healthcare products by revealing thousands of new biological targets for the development of drugs, and by giving scientists innovative ways to design new drugs, vaccines and DNA diagnostics. Genomics-based therapeutics include "traditional" small chemical drugs, protein drugs, and potentially gene therapy.
(http://www-ermm.cbcu.cam.ac.uk/)
- Proteomics
- The effort to establish the identities, quantities, structures and biochemical and cellular functions of all proteins in an organism, organ, or organelle, and how these properties vary in space, time and physiological state. (Defining the Mandate of Proteomics in the Post- Genomics Era, National Academy of Sciences, 2002 http://www.nap.edu/books/NI000479/html/R1.html)
- Computational biology
- The discovery and implementation of algorithms that facilitate the understanding of biological processes with an emphasis on technical issues associated with the analysis, management, and visualization of cellular information at the molecular level.
(UCSC Center for Biomedical Engineering: http://www.cse.ucsc.edu/research/compbio/).
- Molecular medicine
- Medical research and practice focusing on the understanding of the basic molecular biology and its translation into diagnosis, prevention, treatment and cure of human diseases, including genetic diseases.
- Bioinformatics
- A rapidly growing interdisciplinary research area, which may be defined as the interface between biological and computational sciences. It is the study of how information is represented and transmitted in biological systems, starting at the molecular level. This young scientific field deals with the computational management of all kinds of biological information, such as information about genes and their products, whole organisms or even ecological systems. Research in bioinformatics centers around organization of biological information to facilitate the analysis and retrieval of the vast amounts of data produced in the fields of genomics and molecular medicine.
( http://www.bioinformatics.weizmann.ac.il/cards/bioinfo_intro.html).
What is in a name?
Genomics, strictly speaking, is the study of genes and their function.
The AMIA Genomics Working Group was established when the Human Genome Project was nearing completion. The pace of progress in the short time since the genetic sequence of humans became known - the post-genomic age - has been dizzying, with a rapid proliferation of "-omics" related to gene function and gene products: proteomics, phenomics, etc.
Some have suggested that GEN-WG change its name to reflect the full spectrum of this scientific activity. For now, GEN-WG uses a broad definition of genomics that encompasses all facets of the study of human genes, gene function and gene products in normal and/or disease states.
What is genomics?
http://www.genomecenter.ucdavis.edu/what.html
Definitions of bioinformatics
http://kbrin.a-bldg.louisville.edu/~rouchka/definition.html
Bioinformatics definitions
http://www.geocities.com/bioinformaticsweb/definition.html
Standards of Practice
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