Biological Terms Biological Definitions Genome The complete set

Biological Terms • Biological Definitions Genome "The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism". Genomics It is the study revealing information about the genomes of various organisms. DNA All genetic information in any living creature is held in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), which consists of four simple nucleic acid unit called nucleotides which are sometimes called bases. Protein "A large molecule composed of one or more chains of amino-acids in a specific order. The order is determined by the base sequence of nucleotides in the gene that codes for protein. Proteins are required for determining the structure, function, and regulation of body's cells, tissues, and organs. Each protein has a unique function. Examples are hormones, enzymes, and antibodies". Bioinformatics refers to the use of computer science methodology to deal with biological problems. The main objective of s bioinformatics research is to increase the understanding of living organisms such that this understanding will help to improve the quality of life. Bioinformatics uses information technologies in order to discover whenever more knowledge in the field of biology.

Genomic Sequences • DNA and RNA can be represented practically by a very long sequence comprising of three identical letters, A (adenine), G (guanine), and T (thymine). The fourth letter in DNA is C (cytosine) while in RNA it is uracil (U). There are two complementary strands of DNA which are called base-pairs. The other type of genomic sequences is protein which can be represented by a sequence of over twenty symbols (A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y). These symbols are transcriptions of selected DNA stretches. • The following is the example of a DNA sequence in FASTA format taken from MGRC, (2008):

Genomic Sequences >gi|182667918|gb|FF 562694. 1|FF 562694 MUSRS 95 TF MUSR Musa acuminata c. DNA 5', m. RNA sequence GGGAAGACCTGCATGCTGATATCCTACAC CAGCAACACGTTCCCCACGGACTATGTGC CTACTGTTTTCGACAATTTCAGTGCAAAT GTCGTGGTAGATGGTAGCACTGTTAACCT AGGTCTATGGGATACAGCAGGCCAGGAA GATTACAATAGACTAAGACCTTTGAGCTA TCGTGGAGCTGACGTTTTTCTTCTTGCCTT CTCCTTG

Genomic Sequences • Given below is the example of a Protein sequence represented in FASTA format taken from MGRC, (2008): >gi|8394006|ref|NP_059060. 1| zinc finger protein 260; pancreas zinc finger protein; Pancreas zinc finger protein, see also D 1 Bda 102 [Rattus norvegicus] MLESLQPESELLHDEPDPGEKVYECDECRKTFSLEQHFVEHKKTHGGEKSPE CTGCGEEFSKASSLTRHLRSRSRRESYKCGNCGRTFSQRGNFLSHQKQHAEE RPSESKKTPVPMTTIVRNQRNAGNKPYACKECGKAFNGKSYLKEHEKIHTGE KPFECNQCGRAFSQKQYLIKHQNVHSGKKPFKCNECGKAFSQKENLIIHQRI HTGEKPYECKGCGKAFIQKSSLIRHQRSHTGEKPYTCKECGKAFSGKSNLTE HEKIHIGEKPYKCNECGTIFRQKQYLIKHHNIHTGEKPYECNKCGKAFSRITSL IVHVRIHTGDKPYECKVCGKAFCQSSSLTVHMRSHTGEKPYGCNECGKAFSQ FSTLALHMRIHTGEKPYQCSECGKAFSQKSHHIRHQRIHIH

Genomic Databases • The three most common resources of genomic databases are the US human genome initiative (Gen. Bank), the DNA Data Bank of Japan (DDBJ), and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL).

Genomic Information Retrieval • Genomic information retrieval (GIR) is an area of intersecting bioinformatics and information retrieval (IR). (i. e. combining bioinformatics with the methods of the information retrieval IR).

Genomic Searching Approaches • There are two common types of searching approaches that are used in genomic databases. They are the exhaustive searching, and indexed searching approaches. 1. Exhaustive Searching 2. Indexed Searching (Approximate Matching)