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Genetics vs. Genomics
In popular media and common speech, the words "genetic" and "genomic" are often used interchangeably. However, to a geneticist, these terms have specific meanings. To appreciate the difference, we must first understand something about the structure of genetic material.
Genetic information is stored in the molecule DNA, which consists of a string of chemicals called bases. The order of bases on the string, called the "sequence", determines the meaning of the genetic message. A gene is a specific stretch of bases that provides instructions for making a particular product, such as a piece of a hormone or enzyme. Humans have many thousands of genes, spaced across the entire set of DNA, which is packaged into 23 pairs of chromosomes. However, there are many DNA sequences in-between genes that do not directly encode specific products. Some of these sequences modify the way that genes are expressed. Other sequences do not have a known function.
Genetic information is stored in the molecule DNA, which consists of a string of chemicals called bases. The order of bases on the string, called the "sequence", determines the meaning of the genetic message. A gene is a specific stretch of bases that provides instructions for making a particular product, such as a piece of a hormone or enzyme. Humans have many thousands of genes, spaced across the entire set of DNA, which is packaged into 23 pairs of chromosomes. However, there are many DNA sequences in-between genes that do not directly encode specific products. Some of these sequences modify the way that genes are expressed. Other sequences do not have a known function.
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