To move forward with the definition of genomics, we must first be clear about several concepts. Let's start with nucleotides , which are organic compounds that are formed with a phosphoric acid, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base.
The sequence of DNA deoxyribonucleotides is called the genome, which can also be understood as the genetic material of an organism . That is the object of study of genomics.
Characterizing and quantifying genes (DNA sequences that transmit hereditary characteristics) are two of the tasks of genomics. While genetics analyzes individual genes, genomics focuses on DNA sequencing to examine and assemble the structure of an entire genome, as well as its function.
Another difference is that genomics is based on bioinformatics , which consists of applying statistics and computing technologies to the analysis and processing of biological data. Other names by which this discipline is known are biocomputing, computational biology , and biological informatics .
It is important to mention that, to date, few genomes have been sequenced. That is why genomics has a great future ahead, since it is expected to make important contributions to health , agriculture and other areas, such as biotechnology. The information that scientists dedicated to this area can collect is truly invaluable.
We must point out that the field to which genomics belongs is that of molecular biology , a branch of biology that focuses on the processes that take place in living organisms, observing them from a molecular perspective. In more contemporary terms, its goal is to explain the phenomena of living beings based on their macromolecular properties.