ENCODE

ENCODE (Encyclopedia of DNA Elements) is a public research project launched by the US National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) in September 2003. The goal of ENCODE is to identify all functional elements in the human genome.

History

The ENCODE project was launched as a follow-up to the Human Genome Project. The Human Genome Project sequenced the DNA that makes up the human genome; the ENCODE project seeks to interpret this sequence.

Project Details

The project involves a worldwide consortium of research groups, and data generated from this project are made available to the public free of charge. The project covers three main areas: genes, regulatory elements, and transcription.

Genes

In the context of the ENCODE project, a gene is defined as a DNA sequence that is transcribed into RNA. This includes protein-coding genes as well as non-coding RNAs, pseudogenes, and other non-protein-coding sequences.

Regulatory Elements

Regulatory elements are DNA sequences that control the transcription of genes. They include promoters, which initiate transcription, and enhancers, which increase the rate of transcription.

Transcription

Transcription is the process by which the information in a strand of DNA is copied into a new molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA). ENCODE researchers are studying the transcription process in various cell types and conditions to understand how it is regulated.

Impact

The ENCODE project has significantly expanded our understanding of the human genome. It has identified numerous new genes and regulatory elements, and has provided insights into the mechanisms of gene regulation. The data generated by the ENCODE project are being used in many areas of biomedical research, including the study of disease.

See Also

• Human Genome Project
• Genome
• Gene
• Transcription (genetics)

References

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