This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 677 an undergraduate course at UW-Madison
What is Gene Ontology?
Gene Ontology is a major project that uses bioinformatics to unify gene and gene products across all species [1]. This major initiative tries to address the need for a consistent description of gene products, such as proteins and RNA, so that it can be used across the scientific community. Ontologies are developed and describe the function and cellular localization of gene products across all species [1]. It uses a set of structured, controlled, vocabularies for use across the scientific community [2]. It strives to unify gene and gene products through this set of vocabulary, which allows easier understanding of the genes function and relatedness of genes. Before this large project, each species had their own database, which made it hard to go between organisms and link function and localization of gene and gene products. However, since Gene Ontology, it has become easier to link function and localization of genes and their products.
There are three categories of Gene Ontology. Molecular function is the first category, which is the biological activity of a gene and gene product such as a protein [2]. It goes so far as to describe the capability that it can perform the biological activity [2]. The second category is cellular component. This is where the protein or other gene product localizes where it is active in the cell [2]. The third category is biological process which refers to the biological objective to which a gene or protein contributes [2]. These three categories help to classify genes and their products into a consistent and descriptive vocabulary.
There are three categories of Gene Ontology. Molecular function is the first category, which is the biological activity of a gene and gene product such as a protein [2]. It goes so far as to describe the capability that it can perform the biological activity [2]. The second category is cellular component. This is where the protein or other gene product localizes where it is active in the cell [2]. The third category is biological process which refers to the biological objective to which a gene or protein contributes [2]. These three categories help to classify genes and their products into a consistent and descriptive vocabulary.
BBS1 Gene and Gene Ontology [3]
Gene Ontology of BBS1 was looked at in a variety of sites. The phrases associated with the three categories were obtained from the GO consortium. The tree on the right looks at Cilium Assembly and the related processes. It was obtained from AmiGo.
Molecular Function
Cilium Assembly Golgi to Plasma Membrane Protein Transport Nonmotile Primary Cilium Assembly Photoreceptor Cell Maintenance Response to Stimulus Retina Homeostasis Cellular Component BBSome Cilium Membrane Cytoplasm Biological Objective Molecular Function |
Analysis and Discussion
BBS1 has not been studied at length. However, much has been done to study its role in the primary cilia and the assembly of it. The symptoms of Bardet-Biedl Syndrome pointed to the disease being a defect in the primary cilia and has led to much research into BBS1's role in the formation and function in primary cilia. Other aspects or roles this gene may play have not been well characterized.
References:
[Banner Photo] "NDM-1" NDM-1. Retrieved 12 March 2013 from http://www.personal.psu.edu/czc5161/blogs/testing/references.html.
[1] "The Gene Ontology." AmiGO! Your Friend in . N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2013.
[2] The Gene Ontology Project in 2008. Nucleic Acids Research, 2007(1). doi:10.1093/nar/gkm883
[3] the Gene Ontology. The Gene Ontology. N.p., n.d. Web 09 May 2013. http://www.geneontology.org/
[Banner Photo] "NDM-1" NDM-1. Retrieved 12 March 2013 from http://www.personal.psu.edu/czc5161/blogs/testing/references.html.
[1] "The Gene Ontology." AmiGO! Your Friend in . N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2013.
[2] The Gene Ontology Project in 2008. Nucleic Acids Research, 2007(1). doi:10.1093/nar/gkm883
[3] the Gene Ontology. The Gene Ontology. N.p., n.d. Web 09 May 2013. http://www.geneontology.org/