The use of genomic information to delineate protein structure, function, pathways and networks. Function may be determined by "knocking out" or "knocking in" expressed genes in model organisms such as worm, fruitfly, yeast or mouse.

Establishing a verifiable link between gene expression and some phenotype.

The study of the roles genes play in directed different biological processes, including how they contribute to or cause disease. More simply, the study of what genes do.

The large-scale exploration of gene function that includes the analysis of regulatory networks, biochemical pathways, protein-protein interactions, the effects of gene knockouts, and the results of functional complementation of knockouts.

Assignment of a role or function to genes. Gene Unit of inheritance; a working subunit of DNA containing the code for a specific product, typically a protein such as an enzyme.

Functional genomics is the area of genetics that focuses on determining the function of genetic information present in a cell or its “genome function".

Now that the human genome has been catalogued, it is necessary to determine the function of each gene, and to understand the control mechanisms. It will also be required that the role that genotype and environment play in determining the phenotype be elucidated. To understand gene function, researchers need to apply high-throughput technologies to study functional networks and pathways. With enough data and appropriate chemometrics tools, it should be possible to do this, which would allow optimization of drug target selection and the development of safer, more effective therapeutics. Metabonomics promises to be a lead technology in this process.

specialized field of genomics that examines how disease genes affect the disease process.

the branch of genomics that determines the biological function of the genes and their products

Study of the role of a particular gene product in the organism

Studies of the relationship between the structure and organization of the genome and the function of the genome as it directs growth, development, physiological activities, and other life processes of the organism.

The study of functional information derived from entire proteomes; alternatively, high-throughput study of protein functions in general.

An area of genetics that focuses on determining the function of all of the genetic information, or genome, present in a cell.

tries to convert the molecular information represented by DNA into an understanding of gene functions and effects: how and why genes behave in certain species and under specific conditions. To address gene function and expression specifically, the recovery and identification of mutant and over-expressed phenotypes can be employed. Functional genomics also entails research on the protein function (‘proteomics') or, even more broadly, the whole metabolism (‘metabolomics') of an organism.

identifies the mechanism by which proteins control cell functioning in all forms of life

The use of genetic technology to determine the function of newly discovered genes by determining their role in one or more model organisms. Functional genomics uses as its starting point the isolated gene whose function is to be determined, and then selects a model organism in which a homolog of that gene exists. This model organism can be as simple as a yeast cell or as complex as a nematode worm, fruit fly, or even a mouse.

The study of the functions of genes and their interrelationships. Genome sequence is structure only. While bioinformatics allows us to infer function, in some cases, it is necessary.

The study of the function of individual genes in the genome

the use of biological experiments and database searches to establish what each gene does, how it is regulated, and how it interacts with other genes.

Analysis not only of sequence, but of functional interaction of genetic information and/or of the proteins encoded thereby; important step in identifying novel targets fusion protein proteins composed of different parts

The science of understanding the orgaization of genetic pathways and the expression of genes.

The study of genomes to determine the biological function of all the genes and their products.

Predicting biological function of genes and proteins from their primary sequence.

An area of study that determines what trait or function a gene encodes.

Making sense of the sequence in terms of gene function.

The analysis of genetic information and its biological function. An important step in the identification of targets.

The discovery and determination of the function of genes through systematic analysis of their activity in healthy and diseased tissues.

The development and application of experimental approaches to assess gene function by making use of the information and reagents provided by structural genomics.

The predictive biology that results from the knowledge of the complete inventory of genes, proteins and other genomic information of various organisms. The systematic analysis of genetic activity in cells. For more information, see Functional Genomics Jump Station.

Systematic analysis of gene activity in healthy and diseased tissues.

The normal pattern of expression of genes in development and differentiation and the function of their protein products in normal development as well as their dysfunction in inherited disorders.

Functional genomics is a field of molecular biology that attempts to make use of the vast wealth of data produced by genomic projects (such as genome sequencing projects) to describe gene (and protein!) functions and interactions. Unlike genomics and proteomics, functional genomics focus on the dynamic aspects such as gene transcription, translation, and protein-protein interactions, as opposed to the static aspects of the genomic information such as DNA sequence or structures.