Page 29 - V1.Osung Book_Eng

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What is GENOME?

GENOME is a term in combination with two words, gene and chromosome.

Every cell of organism has a nucleus and there are certain number of chromosome. And

chromosome has DNA with generic information inherited from their parents.

The gene or chromosome group including this DNA is called genome. The term, genome is first

defined by H. Winkler in 1920.

Chromosome to organize the genome has specific number according to the species. If one or

small portion of chromosome in genome are lost, it has a significant influence to the functions.

Using this, there are many researches to find out the composition of organism genome.

In short, it is called a genome project; researchers try to discover the base sequence in DNA

which determine generic characteristics, make map and study its generic characteristics.

Genome project contributes to great improvement to clean up the cause of incurable hereditary

diseases and cure them. However, some people point out that it threats the life ethics.

But already many nations in the world began the genome project and discovered genome

information of over 30 species. Korea also has conducted the human genome project as a

national project since 1996.