Genome sequence comparisons: hurdles in the fast lane to functional genomics

An important computational technique for extracting the wealth of information hidden in human genomic sequence data is to compare the sequence with that from the corresponding region of the mouse genome, looking for segments that are conserved over evolutionary time. Moreover, the approach generalises to comparison of sequences from any two related species. The underlying rationale (which is abundantly confirmed by observation) is that a random mutation in a functional region is usually deleterious to the organism, and hence unlikely to become fixed in the population, whereas mutations in a non-functional region are free to accumulate over time. The potential value of this approach is so attractive that the public and private projects to sequence the human genome are now turning to sequencing the mouse, and you will soon be able to compare the human and mouse sequences of your favourite genomic region. We are currently witnessing an explosion of computer tools for comparative analysis of two genomic sequences. Here the capabilities of two new network servers for comparing genomic sequences from any pair of closely related species are sketched. The Syntenic Gene Prediction Program SGP-I utilises sequence comparisons to enhance the ability to locate protein coding segments in genomic data. PipMaker attempts to determine all conserved genomic regions, regardless of their function.