OF AGRI- BIOTECH West Biotech Inc. Global Knowledge Center modification of itself or other RNA FOR THE ACQUISITION Information Centre, A service of Ag- INTERNATIONAL S ERVICE RNA), or facilitates the biochemical Agricultural Biotechnology RNA), transports amino acids (transfer Infosource. Saskatchewan provides sub-cellular structure (ribosomal Meet the ‘omics’ 2003 Agbiotech carries information (messenger RNA), from DNA by transcription, that either tdb RNA (ribonucleic acid): a molecule, derived Genome Projects. http://www.tigr.org/ at a given time. Proteome: complete set of proteins in a cell and Metabolomics First Printing, May 2004 Volume 2 No.1. observable characteristics of an organism. State University. October 2001. Genomics, Proteomics, E-mail: [email protected] Plant Sciences Institute Update. Iowa Phenotype: the physical appearance/ weight compounds in a cell at a given time. Fax: +63-2 8450606 Metabolome: complete set of low molecular ‘Omics’ Sciences: Tel: +63-2 8450563 publicat/primer/primer.pdf organism. 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines. TechResources/Human_Genome/ Genotype: the genetic constitution of an SEAsiaCenter c/o IRRI, DAPO Box http://www.ornl.gov/ of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) Genome: the complete set of genes in a cell. Primer on Molecular Genetics. traits or characteristics. International Service for the Acquisition information, please contact the Gene: a biological unit that codes for distinct www.isaaa.org/kc). For more publicat/primer2001/1.html genetic information. Center on Crop Biotechnology (http:// TechResources/Human_Genome/ found in cells of organisms that encodes No. 15 are produced by the Global Knowledge http://www.ornl.gov/ DNA: (deoxyribonucleic acid); a molecule K issues available at your fingertips. They biotechnology products and related packaged information on crop and Society. A 2001 primer. Genomics and Its impact on Medicine of DNA, containing many genes. Chromosome: a grouping of coiled strands
Pocket Pocket Ks are Pockets of Knowledge, References Glossary
Figure 1. Genes, proteins, and
Genomics molecular machines Genomics is the new In crop agriculture, the main purpose of the science that deals with application of genomics is to gain a better GENES the discovery and understanding of the whole genome of plants. Contain recipes noting of all the Agronomically important genes may be for proteins PROTEIN sequences in the entire identified and targeted to produce more MACHINE DNA genome of a particular nutritious and safe food while at the same USDA PHOTO organism. The genome can be time preserving the environment. defined as the complete set of genes inside a cell. Genomics, is, Genomics is an entry point for looking at the therefore, the study of the genetic other ‘omics’ sciences. The information in the make-up of organisms. genes of an organism, its genotype, is largely responsible for the final physical makeup of is as follows. The DNA is transcribed or Determining the genomic sequence, the organism, referred to as the “phenotype”. copied into a form known as “RNA”. The however, is only the beginning of However, the environment also has some complete set of RNA (also known as its genomics. Once this is done, the genomic influence on the phenotype. transcriptome) is subject to some editing Information is sequence is used to study the function of (cutting and pasting) to become stored in genes PROTEINS and other DNA the numerous genes (functional DNA in the genome is only one aspect of the messenger-RNA, which carries sequences genomics), to compare the genes in one complex mechanism that keeps an organism information to the ribosome, the protein Proteins act alone or in complexes organism with those of another running – so decoding the DNA is one step factory of the cell, which then translates to perform all (comparative genomics), or to generate towards understanding the process. the message into protein. cellular functions the 3-D structure of one or more proteins However, by itself, it does not specify from each protein family, thus offering everything that happens within the organism. (DNA strand illustration in this section clues to their function (structural courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy genomics). The basic flow of genetic information in a cell Genomes to Life Program. Source: U.S. Department of Energy Genomes to Life Program (htpp://doegenomestolife.org) The International Rice Genome Sequencing Project Metabolomics Figure 2. Example of a metabolic This ongoing genomic research in Metabolomics is one of the newest network model for E. coli rice is a collaborative effort of several ‘omics’ sciences. The metabolome public and private laboratories refers to the complete set of low worldwide. This project aims to molecular weight compounds in a completely sequence the entire rice sample. These compounds are the genome (12 rice chromosomes) and substrates and by-products of enzymatic
USDA PHOTO subsequently apply the knowledge to reactions and have a direct effect on the improve rice production. phenotype of the cell. Thus, metabolomics aims at determining a In 2002, the draft genome sample’s profile of these compounds at sequences of two agriculturally will assist in identifying important a specified time under specific important subspecies of rice, indica genes in maize, wheat, oats, environmental conditions. and japonica, were published. Once sorghum, and millet. completed, the rice genome Genomics and proteomics have sequence will serve as a model For more, visit provided extensive information regarding system for other cereal grasses and http://rgp.dna.affrc.go.jp/IRGSP/ the genotype but convey limited information about phenotype. Low molecular weight compounds are the Proteomics closest link to phenotype.
Metabolomics can be used to determine
Proteins are responsible for an endless differences between the levels of number of tasks within the cell. The thousands of molecules between a complete set of proteins in a cell can be healthy and diseased plant. The referred to as its proteome and the study of technology can also be used to protein structure and function and what determine the nutritional difference every protein in the cell is doing is known between traditional and genetically USDA PHOTO
as proteomics. The proteome is highly modified crops, and in identifying plant Source: U.S. Department of Energy Genomes dynamic and it changes from time to time in defense metabolites. to Life Program (htpp://doegenomestolife.org) response to different environmental stimuli. The goal of proteomics is to understand how the structure and function of proteins allow them to do what they do, what they interact with, and how they contribute to life processes. Figure 3. The Taxonomy of ‘omics’ sciences.
An application of proteomics is known as protein “expression profiling” where
DNA Genomics proteins are identified at a certain time in an organism as a result of the expression to a stimulus. Proteomics can also be used to develop a protein-network map where interaction among proteins can be determined for a particular living system. RNA Transcriptomics Proteomics can also be applied to map protein modification to determine the difference between a wild type and a genetically modified organism. It is also used Proteins Proteomics to study protein-protein interactions involved in plant defense reactions.
For example, proteomics research at Iowa State University, USA includes: Metabolites Metabolomics • an examination of changes of protein in the corn proteome during low Source: http://biotech.nature.com temperatures which is a major problem for young corn seedlings; • analysis of the differences that occur in the genome expression in Genomics provides an overview of the complete set of genetic instructions provided by the DNA, developing soybean stressed by high temperatures; and while transcriptomics looks into gene expression patterns. Proteomics studies dynamic protein • identifying the proteins expressed in response to diseases like soybean products and their interactions, while metabolomics is also an intermediate step in understanding cyst nematode. organism’s entire metabolism.
