Bioinformatics: Transcriptomics

Bioinformatics: Transcriptomics

In human DNA, less than 5% of the genome is transcribed, the rest of the genome is playing the role of watching and controlling and regulating the 5%, that's why the cellular processes are very precise.

So now after the extencive sequencing projects of different genomes, the new challenge is to try to identify expression patterns of genes we have sequenced, thats when Transcriptomics will become very useful.

So what is Transcriptomics?

Transcriptomics is the study of the complete set of RNA transcripts produced by the genome (Transcriptome) at a given time.

Transcriptomics also called gene expression profiling or genome-wide expression profiling sometimes provide solutions to understand genes and pathways involved in biological processes, so simply it examines the expression level of mRNAs.

So what can transcriptomics do for us?

As mentioned before Transcriptomics will give us answers as which gene is activated, and when its activated, by what its activated...etc

In Transcriptomics identifying similarities in expression pattern give us clues that the genes are functionally related and they have the same genetic control mechanism.


The most common technology used to study expression levels is DNA Microarray.

To understand what Microarrays are used for or Microarrays main applications, please read THIS POST.

Any questions, be free to comment.