What is Genomics – Genomics is that part of biology which deals with all the operations on genomes, such as finding out information about its structure, function and evolution, along with mapping and editing it. So basically, it aims at the collective characterization and quantification of all of an organism’s genes, their interrelations and influence on the organism.
Before diving deep into the sea of know-hows of genomics, lets just have a brief swim in the market value of the genomics. Genomics market is one of those upbeat markets that grows year-on-year with one of the highest growth rates. According to a market research company, Grand View Research, Inc., this market was valued at USD 20.1 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at CAGR of 15.35% from 2021 to 2028. These numbers speak volumes about the potential this market holds.
Now the question arises, why it holds such a potential and what is it exactly?
Genomics – What & Why?
To understand genomics as a subject, we need to go through some of the minor but important definitions that form a substantial part of genomics.
- DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) – It is a molecule formed by two polynucleotide chains in a double helix formation, having all the genetic information for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms and several viruses.
- Genome –Genome is the name given to all the genetic material of an organism. By genetic material, I mean – DNA, RNA (in RNA Viruses), also mitochondrial DNA, and chloroplast DNA- all of it.
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Genetics Vs Genomics
Most of the people are very familiar with genetics and not so much with genomics. Also, several more than them, use both the terms interchangeably, causing a great deal of confusion among the masses. However, both of these terms have fair bit of difference.
Genetics is the older member of the same family and deals with the study of specific genes and their roles in inheritance – simply stated, it is the study of how and in what ways certain traits or conditions are passed down from one generation to another. It dates back to Augustinian friar and scientist Gregor Johann Mendel, whose studies on pea plants provided many insights into the rules of heredity.
Genomics, on the other hand is the relatively new subject, but effective nonetheless. Contrasting to genetics, it is the study of the entirety of an organism’s genome and makes use of mathematic tools such as bioinformatics, computational biology along with DNA sequencing to analyze large amounts of DNA-sequence data and find variations that affects health, disease or drug response. In Humans, it entails going through about 3 billion units of DNA across 23,000 genes to find clues.
Applications galore!
Personalized Meds
Personalized medicines or Pharmacogenomics, is the name of the process of using a person’s genome sequence and developing medicines that are suitable to that person’s body. In this process, sequencing the DNA of several people is of utmost importance, as it helps researchers understand how genomic differences relate to different traits. In addition to this, pharmacogenomics continuously seeks to reduce the side effects of the medicines which is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.
Fighting Genetic Diseases
When you have a rare disease, you have to fight two battles – one is the illness and the other is to live in a world where very few people know about the disease you’re suffering from.
Around 300 million people in this world are suffering from rare disorders, and about 80% of these diseases are genetic in origin. In addition to this, 95% of these diseases do not even have a single approved treatment world over. Advances in Genomics have given people suffering from these diseases a chance to get a proper diagnosis and then avail themselves of a personalized treatment helping them alleviate their suffering.
Genomics also help people to choose suitable partners, in order to avoid the chances to pass on rare genetic disorders to the next generation. It is done through Genetic Compatibility Test or Genetic Matching.
Genetic Fingerprinting
Even before the human genome project was completed in April 2003, the forensic analyses of DNA were being used heavily. However, as the newer approaches were being made in the field, the process became more and more efficient and quick. Study of genomics and advances in DNA sequencing has helped detectives, law enforcement officials and forensic experts to determine that 0.1 percent of the human genome sequence that differs between people and has helped them achieve their goals and make the society that we live in, a better place.
Genetic Ancestry Test
The secret to human evolution and the evolution of the world as we know it, is not only hidden in the darkness of outer space, but also in the depth of a person’s genome. The human genome project helped sequence a human genome and laid bare a lot of secrets thereafter. However, a lot is still there to be known. It is just as they say, “The more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know”
Genomics helps us understand our ancestry, human history and gives us an opportunity to learn from the past and use those learnings in present to improve our future.
Agriculture
DNA sequencing or Genome sequencing of the plants and the animals helps us to choose desirable traits in them, leading to better output and increased benefits. By mimicking natural processes, scientists can selectively add traits like resistance to herbicides in plants. The resulting offspring have been called genetically modified organisms (or GMOs). One example is “Golden Rice,” which is a rice strain that has small bits of corn and bacterial DNA added to its genome. These extra genes allow the rice to produce beta carotene (a vitamin A precursor). It went on to achieve the Patents of Humanity award by US government, as it had the ability to help people suffering from blindness and immune system deficiencies.
This is just one example of several benefits genomics can provide in agriculture.
Final 2 cents
To be honest with all of you, the picture of genomics on the world front is not all hunky-dory. There are several challenges faced by researchers and scientist in multiple parts of the worlds against the usage of GMOs, risks of gene-editing among people, stark misuse of genomics to create synthetic clones and genetically modified children. These challenges are needed to be addressed by the governing authorities and the responsibility that genomics should not be put to ill use rests on all of our shoulders. After all, this is, a very old mandate;
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