The Human Genome Project (Hgp) and Bioinformatics free essay sample

Its goals were to identify  all the approximately 25,000-30,000 genes in the human genome, to determine  the sequences of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make up the human genome, to store  the information that resulted from the project in databases, to improve  tools for data analysis, to transfer  related technologies to the private sector, and to address  the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) that may arise from the project. As researchers learn more about the functions of genes and proteins through the results obtained from the project, it will have a major impact in the fields of medicine, biotechnology, and the life sciences. For instance, the genetic sequences recorded by the project will aid in the identification of genetic diseases. Once the causes of those diseases are discovered and understood, there is hope that defective genes may be repaired and the disease cured by establishing new drugs based on the DNA base sequences of those genes or the structure of proteins coded for by them. We will write a custom essay sample on The Human Genome Project (Hgp) and Bioinformatics or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Already, the genes responsible for cystic fibrosis, breast cancer, colon cancer, and sickle cell anemia have been found, making genetic tests for carriers of the disease a reality. In addition to this, the sequencing of the entire human genome will give us new insights into the origins, evolution, and migration of humans. The need for bioinformatics capabilities has been precipitated by the explosion of publicly available genomic information resulting from the Human Genome Project. Bioinformatics is a field that deals with the  application of computer technology to gather, store, analyze, and integrate mainly molecular biological information. Using this information in a digital format, bioinformatics can solve problems of molecular biology, predict structures, and even simulate macromolecules. Its ultimate goal is to enable the discovery of new biological insights that could have profound impacts on fields as varied as human health, agriculture, environment, energy, and biotechnology. Bioinformatics is essential as its approaches are used to understand the function of genes, the regulation of cells, drug target selection, drug design, and disease. The most well-known application of bioinformatics is sequence analysis. In sequence analysis, DNA sequences of various organisms are stored in databases for easy retrieval and comparison. The Human Genome Project  is an example of a sequence analysis. Using massive computers and various methods of collecting sequences, the entire human genome was sequenced and stored within a structured database. DNA sequences used for bioinformatics can be collected in a number of ways. One method is to go through a genome and search out individual sequences to record and store. Another method is called the shotgun sequencing, which is to grab huge amounts of fragments of DNA and compare them all, finding whole sequences by overlapping the redundant segments. Shotgun sequencing is currently the most popular because of its ease and speed. By comparing known sequences of a genome to specific mutations, much information can be gleaned about undesirable mutations such as cancers. With the completed mapping of the human genome, bioinformatics has become very important in the research of cancers in the hope of an eventual cure. There are many other applications of bioinformatics, including predicting entire protein strands, learning how genes express themselves in various species, and building complex models of entire cells. As computing power increases and our databases of genetic and molecular information expand, the realm of bioinformatics is sure to grow and change drastically, allowing us to build models of incredible complexity and utility.