DECEMBER 1 9 9 9
ISSUE 51 " PUBLISHED BY AG-WEST BIOTECH INC.
Computers and Biotechnology
Scientists are making exciting discoveries in the
if these bases were blocks, how many different
field of genomics, an area of study which looks at
ways you could place them. For example you
the DNA sequence of an organism in order to
could have AAGCT, CCAGT, TACGGT etc. An
determine what genes code for beneficial traits
infinite number of combinations of these bases are
and which genes are involved in inherited
possible.
diseases. As this field advances, and more
information is generated, scientists need a way to
A database system is a computerized record-
store and analyze that information. Computers
keeping system. With the increasing amount of
can greatly assist that process. As a result, a new
information, new database systems continue to be
research area which combines the study of
developed. Scientists are currently trying to
biotechnology and the use of computers is
determine the entire DNA sequence of various
emerging. This field is referred to as
living things. Perhaps one of the best known
bioinformatics and involves the use of Internet
projects is the Human Genome Project. The
tools, artificial intelligence and other advanced
genomes of yeast called S. cerevisiae and a
computational methods to assist in storing and
roundworm C. elegans have been completed. In
analyzing data generated from DNA sequencing.
addition, several chromosomes from rice and
corn, and a plant commonly used for research
There are many ways in which computers can aid
called Arabidopsis thaliana are completed and
research into genomics.
soon the entire genome of these plants will be
completed. In agricultural research, scientists are
trying to determine the maps for barley, wheat,
1. Information Storage
rice, Arabidopsis and other crops and livestock.
DNA is a molecule made from sugar, phosphate
Each year, for the human genome project alone,
and bases called guanine (G), cytosine (C),
scientists determine more than 210 million
adenine (A), and thymine (T). The various
nucleotide base pairs, the code that makes up a
combinations of these bases make up the DNA in
DNA sequence. By the end of this year, it has
plants, animals, bacteria, yeast and fungi. Imagine
been predicted that the human genome sequence
DNA sequences to determine how closely two
databases will have grown to 4 billion base pairs.
different species are related on an evolutionary
The effort to sequence the Arabidopsis genome
scale.
will require determining the sequence of a 120-
megabase sequence.
3. Communication with scientists
Computers can greatly assisting in storing
around the world
managing and storing all of this information.
Information on genome research needs to be
shared with other scientists around the world.
2. Data analysis The Internet links hundreds of thousands of
individual networks all over the world. Internet
Determining the DNA sequence for these crops
tools include electronic mail (e-mail). Most
and livestock is only the first step in a genomics
people are familiar with newsgroups, online
project! Results generated from DNA
chatting, and especially the World Wide Web
sequencing could identify genes, regulatory
(Web). The Web can be used to format, retrieve
sequences and other functions.
and display information by text, graphics, audio,
video, and animations. More and more
Genes are the units of DNA that code for
bioinformatics information has been published
particular traits. Once the information of the
over the Internet.
DNA sequence has been determined, the next
step is to find out what these genes code for.
Many of the tools used to analyze DNA and
This area of genomics is referred to as functional
protein sequences are also stored on the Internet
genomics as it involves determining the function
for easy access by scientists.
of a gene. To determine function, scientists
study gene expression, which will determine
Computer technology and genome research have
when, where and how much of a protein is
both grown rapidly over the past decade. It is
produced.
expected that information technology will
continue to provide rapid advances to make
These processes are assisted by comparing one
genome research more efficient, leading to better
DNA sequence to the sequence from closely
methods to diagnose diseases, to identify
related organisms. Computers can help compare
beneficial traits and to provide cures for crop,
DNA sequences and look for homologies, or
animal and human diseases.
related strands of DNA. One can also compare
To find out more about agricultural biotechnology contact: Ag-West would like to thank Zhuan (Mike) Chen of Key
Ag-West Biotech Inc. Media Systems for reviewing this article. Mr. Chen
101-111 Research Drive received an M.Sc. in molecular biology from the
Saskatoon, SK University of Saskatchewan in 1998 and is currently
Canada S7N 3R2 completing an M.Sc. at the Department of Computer
Telephone: (306) 975-1939 Science. He has recently accepted a position as Software
Fax: (306) 975-1966 Engineer at the Whitehead/MIT Centre for Genome
E-mail: agwest@agwest.sk.ca Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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