A Novel Electrochemical Detection Strategy for Heavy Metal Monitoring

65559 The human genome project, as well as other major sequencing efforts, will have a major impact on modern medicine only if the genetic information encoded within the DNA sequences is deciphered. Therefore, functions must be assigned to the sequenced genes, which is the goal of functional genomics. Computational approaches can accelerate dramatically such annotation efforts by producing predictive functions that then can be rapidly confirmed. This project will build and maintain a genomics annotation platform (GAP) powered by computational biology software, that will be accessible online. Subscribers will be able to apply state-of-the-art computer-based comparative genomics and structural genomics technologies in order to extract, from sequence and structure databases, predictive protein functions and protein-protein interactions. In Phase I, the functional infrastructure of the system will be set in place: sequence databases of complete genomes and protein structure databases will be maintained in-house; comparative genomics annotation tools based on phylogenetic pattern, protein fusion, and gene adjacency analyses will be operational, as well as a structure-based homology search strategy; and first-generation online user interface will be developed. Commercial Applications And Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The genomics amnotution platform should allow subscribers from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry to accelerate their functional annotation efforts in the search for more modern therapeutics, better targeted to each disease and better tailored to each patient.