Introduction to Genes and Genomes

Key scientific discoveries in the 20th century include the demonstration that genes consist of DNA, the double helical structure of DNA and the genetic code. Between them, these stimulated the development of recombinant DNA technology or ‘molecular biology’, which is based on the recognition that genes can be isolated, sequenced and analysed. In the 50 years between the elucidation of the DNA double helix in 1953 and the completion of the human genome sequence, dramatic progress has been made on several fronts for investigating genes and genomes, such as molecular cloning, polymorphism detection, DNA sequencing, polymerase chain reaction and genome mapping.

Genomic analysis has far-reaching consequences because it potentially offers an unprecedented perspective into the nature of the genetic contribution to species biology. Genomics and genetics pervade all areas of basic biology, biotechnology and medicine, where in many cases there are clear-cut and immediate benefits such as the diagnosis of genetic
disease. Genomics and genetics are also of growing value to several other fields, including anthropology, archaeology, biotechnology, ecology and forensic science, and also to commerce, where there are already ethical debates concerning the availability of personal genetic information for employment and insurance purposes.