Genome projects and sequencingAQA A-Level Biology: Mind map

Exam questions on Genome projects and sequencing

1. Researchers sequenced the genome of a disease-causing bacterium. It has a single circular chromosome of 2.2 million base pairs and about 2,000 genes. The team wants to identify proteins on the surface of the bacterium that could be used as antigens in a vaccine.
   Explain how knowing the genome of the bacterium allows potential antigens for a vaccine to be identified.2 marks
2. The human genome contains about 3.2 billion base pairs. Only about 1.5% of this DNA codes for proteins, and there are about 20,000 protein-coding genes. A human cell can produce many more different proteins than there are genes, and different cell types produce very different sets of proteins from the same genome.
   Explain why only part of the human genome can be used to predict the proteins produced by a cell.2 marks
3. During an outbreak of a new bacterial disease, scientists used automated sequencing machines to read the whole genome of the bacterium in two days. The first human genome took 13 years to sequence, but sequencing methods have been continuously updated and now cost far less.
   Suggest three benefits of automated sequencing methods compared with the methods used in the first human genome project.3 marks