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POST-GENOMIC ERA of epigenetics will mean that purely sequence data for some disease genes may not be enough. Assessment of whether a gene is active or not (by methylation analysis etc) is an important emerging consideration. New sample prep methods may be needed to assess both sequences and epigenetic changes. See this great slide show. " " http://lnkd.in/rUwHBY View in LinkedIn

NEW DRUGGABLE HORIZONS are opening up? If the currently addressed percent of the druggable human genome was estimated at some 2-5%, it is probable that this percentage will drop dramatically as we learn what functions the non-coding sequences ("Junk DNA") serve in the human genome (since they occupy the vast majority of the human genome). They will now be numerous novel druggable targets (with new Mechanisms of Action) as they get revealed. This is great news for pharmaceutical ventures. View in LinkedIn

EPIGENETICS will change the utility of gene sequencing as a prognostic diagnosis if environmental triggers can turn on and off genes. It wi also open up new DNA targeted druggable sites for future therapy. " " http://lnkd.in/_4Kthg View in LinkedIn

LAMARCK would be vindicated, as trait inheritance paradigm breaks. "The discovery that acquired characteristics can be inherited too is big news. For most of the 20th century, biology held that genes were the sole mechanism of inheritance, and that changes in genes occurred only through the random walk of mutation and the relentless sieve of natural selection."" " http://lnkd.in/gv69hw View in LinkedIn

INHERITING LEARNED EXPERIENCES: Scientists discover how epigenetic information could be inherited: Mechanism of epigenetic reprogramming revealed: " " http://lnkd.in/VyfjUf View in LinkedIn

EPIGENETICS is the other large chunk of the hidden iceberg in genomics. Genes are far from stationary fixed elements. Epigenetics is all about how genes get activated or silenced. The environment, drugs, food, developmental status and many other factors, all can affect gene expression. This is regulated by several mechanisms (like methylation of DNA), analogous to post-translational modification of proteins. At present, our understanding of this phenomenon is rudimentary at best. " " http://lnkd.in/3rp6Bz View in LinkedIn

GENOMICS needs Big Data. Human genome sequence completed 2003, now at 20,000 genes. 3 billion base pairs. But genome sequencing + proteome sequencing gives complexity. Individual genomic and proteomic profiles are key for disease survival. Genes may or may not be turned on. The 20,000 genes produce 200,000 types of RNA coding up to 200,000 proteins. This can result in about a vast number of combinations with hundreds of variant proteins. That is the biomarker challenge. That is Big Data. Proteomics will be computationally bigger than mapping the genome marching sequences to proteins. View in LinkedIn

NON-CODING or "Junk DNA" controversy is far from over and may take years to unravel in different species. Despite the remarkable accomplishment of sequencing the human genome, and all the genetic applications that opened up, the truth is that we have seen only the tip of the iceberg. " "" " | Insight & Intelligence™: What Junk DNA? It’s an Operating System http://lnkd.in/4gXuAi via @genbio. View in LinkedIn

NON-CODING DNA may have different functions in different species. Plants called bladderworts do not need non-coding DNA. " "" ""The bladderwort plant seemed to have stripped out a vast amount of noncoding DNA. Yet the plant did just fine without that material." "In fact, through a genetic quirk the bladderwort had its entire genome duplicated — meaning the plant got two full copies of the genome — three separate times since it diverged from the tomato. Yet the carnivorous plant somehow retained its tiny genome."" "" "'Junk' DNA Mystery Solved: It's Not Needed http://shar.es/yAVwf via @LiveScience View in LinkedIn

STILL UNKNOWN: "A massive project called ENCODE, which aimed to uncover the role of the 3.3 billion base pairs, or letters of DNA, in the human genome that don't code for proteins, found that in test tubes, about 80 percent of the genome seemed to have some biological activity, such as affecting whether genes turn on. Whether that translated to any useful or necessary function for humans, however, wasn't resolved."" "" "'Junk' DNA Mystery Solved: It's Not Needed http://shar.es/yAVwf via @LiveScience View in LinkedIn