The ENCODE Project

 

The ENCODE or Encyclopedia of DNA Elements Project deals mainly with disovering the parts of the genome that actively affect the way genes are expressed or elements that affect the way that RNA and DNA work on a protein level. Through ENCODE, advanced medical research would be possible, as healthcare professionals would be able to determine why a gene malfunctions through TF (transcription factors) in the DNA sequence. The ENCODE project has a pilot phase, production phase and an additional in-progress modENCODE project. The pilot project as basically a "test run" to discover different techniques in obtaining the locations of functional elements in the genome.  Scientists used a 3 mil. bp segment of DNA as a target sequence. The production phase as the actual "workings" of the project as numerous scientists and universities from around the world collaborated to determine identity of the remaining elements. ModENCODE was the ENCODE project but for model organisms.