New technological advancements have allowed scientists to look at the entire human genome. But what are genomics, and why is it relevant?
New technological advancements have allowed us to look at the entire human genome.
The genome is the complete set of genetic information encoded in the DNA.
Human DNA has around three billion letters of code made up of a combination of just four letters: As, Ts, Cs and Gs. Their order allows us to find genes, which carry the information about someone’s traits.
By analyzing DNA, we can learn about these traits and develop better medical treatments.
The method that allows us to look at the genome is called genome sequencing.
During this process, a DNA sample is extracted from a cell and suspended in a liquid. Then the DNA is broken into fragments, and the sample is placed in a sequencer to produce data.
The Human Genome Project was a 13-year-long international scientific research project that culminated in 2003 by producing the first sequence of the human genome. It marked a new era for medicine and paved the way for the development of new gene sequencing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas 9.
According to market insights company Nova One Advisor, the genomics market was estimated at $33 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow by $124 billion at a compound annual growth rate of 16.6% between 2023 and 2033.
Watch the video above to learn more about genomics, the Human Genome Project and whole genome and gene sequencing.