What is the Difference Between Structural and Functional Genomics?

The main difference between structural and functional genomics lies in their focus and objectives. Here is a comparison of the two fields:

Structural Genomics:

• Focuses on the physical nature of genomes, including sequencing and mapping of genomes.
• Involves constructing genome maps, sequencing genes, annotating gene features, and comparing genome structures.
• Determines the 3-dimensional structure of proteins and aims to predict all gene structures in the genome.

Functional Genomics:

• Studies the expression and function of the genome.
• Investigates the interactions between genes and between genes and the environment.
• Generates genomic and proteomic knowledge, giving a more complete picture of the genome.

In summary, structural genomics deals with the structures of genome sequences, while functional genomics focuses on the study of gene expression and the function of genes in a genome. Both fields are essential for understanding the complex relationships between genes, their interactions, and their influence on the environment.

Comparative Table: Structural vs Functional Genomics

Here is a table comparing structural and functional genomics:

In summary, structural genomics focuses on the physical nature of the genome, including sequencing and mapping of genomes. Functional genomics, on the other hand, deals with the study of gene expression and the function of genes in a genome. The primary concerns of structural genomics are determining the complete sequence of genomes and constructing genetic and physical maps, while functional genomics is concerned with understanding the expression and processes of genes and their interrelationships in an organism.