Explain what is meant by bioinformatics and outline the role of bioinformatics following the sequencing of genomes of humans and parasites.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Feb/Mar 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] analysis of biological data using computer software / AW;
2. [1] databases of, gene / DNA / protein / amino acid, sequences ;
3. [1] ref. to large databases ;
4. [1] fast / accurate / efficient ;
5. [1] ref. to allows data to be, shared / pooled ;
6. [1] can predict, amino acid sequences / protein structure (from DNA sequence data);
7. [1] ref. to analytical tool ; e.g. BLAST
8. [1] ref. to comparisons ;
9. [1] used to find methods to control parasites ;
10. [1] named example of control ; e.g. vaccine
11. [1] AVP; e.g. personalised medicine, identify new diseases, ref. common ancestor, phylogenetic analysis, biodiversity / new species
12. [1] probes are, single-stranded DNA / ssDNA ;
13. [1] each probe is unique to a particular gene ;
14. [1] probes correspond to thousands of different genes ;
15. [1] extract mRNA ;
16. [1] mRNA used (as a template) to make cDNA ; R mRNA converted to cDNA
17. [1] by reverse transcription / using reverse transcriptase;
18. [1] (c)DNA linked to fluorescent dye ;
19. [1] (c)DNA added to microarray;
20. [1] (c)DNA, binds to / hybridises, to probes ;
21. [1] by complementary base pairing;
22. [1] excess (c)DNA washed off ;
23. [1] exposed to, UV light / laser ;
24. [1] fluorescence shows the expressed genes / AW;
25. [1] intensity of fluorescence shows level of gene expression ;