Summarizing Applying Genomics

Summary

Imagination is the only barrier to the applicability of genomics. Genomics is being applied to most fields of biology; it is being used for personalized medicine, prediction of disease risks at an individual level, the study of drug interactions before the conduct of clinical trials, and the study of microorganisms in the environment as opposed to the laboratory. It is also being applied to developments such as the generation of new biofuels, genealogical assessment using mitochondria, advances in forensic science, and improvements in agriculture.

Glossary

metagenomics

study of the collective genomes of multiple species that grow and interact in an environmental niche

pharmacogenomics

study of drug interactions with the genome or proteome; also called toxicogenomics

polygenic

phenotypic characteristic caused by two or more genes

pure culture

growth of a single type of cell in the laboratory