Question 23 of 25beginner💡 UnderstandShort Answer2 marks

Why is the Human Genome project called a mega project?

Correct Answer

The Human Genome Project is called a mega project due to its enormous scale and requirements:

Firstly, the human genome contains approximately 3 x 10⁹ base pairs. With an estimated sequencing cost of US $3 per base pair, the total cost amounted to about 9 billion US dollars.

Secondly, the amount of data generated was massive. If stored in printed books with 1000 letters per page and 1000 pages per book, 3300 such books would be required to store the DNA sequence from a single human cell. This necessitated the use of high-speed computational devices for data storage, retrieval, and analysis, leading to the rapid development of Bioinformatics.

Exercise: EXERCISES | Q: 12 | (Page 31)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The textbook emphasizes the magnitude of HGP through quantitative examples: the 3 billion base pairs, the 9 billion dollar cost estimate, and the 3300 books analogy. These facts illustrate why it earned the 'mega project' designation. The connection to Bioinformatics development is also mentioned as a consequence of the enormous data handling requirements.

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Identify the scale - 3 x 10⁹ base pairs in human genome

  2. Step 2: Calculate cost - $3 per bp × 3 billion = 9 billion dollars

  3. Step 3: Explain data magnitude - 3300 books needed for storage

  4. Step 4: Mention computational requirements - led to Bioinformatics development

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