DNAacross

DNAacross is a term used in genetics and bioinformatics to describe the practice of comparing and integrating DNA sequences across different genomes. It refers to approaches that align, analyze, and interpret genomic regions from multiple species or populations to identify conserved elements, structural variation, and evolutionary relationships. The term is not tied to a single standardized protocol but rather to a family of cross-genome analysis methods.

History and etymology

The concept grows out of comparative genomics and pan-genome research, with roots in multi-species sequence alignment and annotation transfer. The label DNAacross emerged to emphasize cross-genome inference rather than intra-genome analysis alone.

Concept and methods

DNAacross encompasses several techniques, including whole-genome and multiple-sequence alignments, synteny mapping, ancestral sequence reconstruction, and graph-based representations of pangenomes. Common goals include identifying conserved coding and noncoding elements, understanding regulatory architecture, and transferring functional annotations between genomes.

Applications

Applications span evolutionary biology, functional genomics, and crop and medical research. Cross-genome analysis aids in discovering conserved elements, annotating newly sequenced genomes, guiding crop improvement through comparative insights, and placing human disease genes in a broader evolutionary context.

Challenges

Key challenges involve aligning highly divergent genomes, handling repetitive and rearranged regions, managing large datasets, and distinguishing genuine conservation from convergent signals. Data quality, computational resources, and ethical considerations in human genomic work also influence DNAacross studies.

See also

Comparative genomics, pan-genome, multiple-sequence alignment, genome annotation, synteny.