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Conserved noncoding sequences are reliable guides to regulatory elements.
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. rch8@psu.edu
Trends in Genetics : TIG
|September 6, 2000
Summary
A draft of the human genome sequence is available. Comparing it with other species aids in identifying functional noncoding DNA segments, but the best species varies by location.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Comparative Genomics
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- The human genome sequence is now accessible as a working draft.
- Identifying functional elements within noncoding DNA is crucial for understanding gene regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the utility of comparative genomics for identifying functional segments in the human genome.
- To highlight the importance of selecting appropriate species for cross-species sequence comparisons.
Main Methods:
- Comparative sequence analysis between human and other species (e.g., mouse).
- Bioinformatic approaches to identify conserved noncoding elements.
Main Results:
- Cross-species genome comparisons are effective for pinpointing functional noncoding regions, including gene regulatory elements.
- The optimal species for comparison is locus-dependent, meaning it varies across different parts of the genome.
Conclusions:
- Comparative genomics is a powerful tool for functional annotation of the human genome.
- Strategic selection of species for comparative analysis is essential for maximizing discovery of regulatory elements.