All living organisms store genetic instructions in their cells which help determine how they grow and function. Scientists have begun toread and use these genetic instructions in a new area of science called Genomics.

Genomics is the comprehensive study of the genetic information of a cell or organism This includes the number of genes in an organism, the function of specific genes, the influence of one gene on another, and the activation and suppression of genes.

Genomics examines genetic information to determine biological markers predisposing an individual to disease. Many diseases due to single gene defects have already been identified. New data obtained by human genome sequencing will help scientists better understand multifactorial diseases such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

What is a Human Genome?

Thehuman genome is all of an individual’s genetic material. It is the entire set of hereditary instructions for building, running, and maintaining an organism. Genes are inherited from parents (genotype)and determine their traits (phenotype).

The human genome contains over 3 billion bits of DNA code. DNA is composed of four chemical bases called nucleotides: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine(C), and thymine (T). This four-letter code is repeated millions or billions of times throughout a genome.

Printed out, your DNA code could fill 200 volumes of 1,000 page phonebooks and yet, this vast information is coded into every cell in your body.

What is Human Genome Sequencing?

Human genome sequencing is the process of determining the exact order of the 3 billion bases that make up the DNA of the 24 different human chromosomes.

The sequencing completed by scientists to date has helped reveal the estimated 20,000-25,000 human genes within our DNA as well as the regions controlling them. The resulting DNA sequence maps are being used by scientists to explore human biology.

Genomics represents the new frontier of personalized medicine. To stimulate major medical breakthroughs and transform our healthcare system, it is imperative that we have the ability to sequence millions of genomes quickly and inexpensively. This is why the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics challenges scientists to successfully sequence 100 human genomes in 10 days at a recurring cost of no more than $10,000 per genome.

For more detailed information see Genomics Frequently Asked Questions.