Question

What do ‘Y’ and ‘B’ stand for in ‘YAC’ and ‘BAC’ used in the Human Genome Project (HGP)? Mention their role in the project.

Answer 1

Hint:The Human Genome Project was an international research project whose main aim was to identify the DNA sequence of the entire human genome as well as mapping and identifying all the genes of the human DNA from a genetic, physical as well as functional standpoint.

Complete answer:
YAC and BAC are the artificial chromosomes that were utilized in the Human Genome Project.
-YAC stands for Yeast Artificial Chromosome
-BAC stands for Bacterial Artificial Chromosome

The Human Genome Project consisted of three major steps; obtaining a DNA clone for sequencing. Sequencing the DNA clone and assembling the sequence data from multiple clones to determine overlapping regions and establish a contiguous sequence.

YAC and BAC being artificial chromosomes were utilized for cloning large sections of the human genome within them. This enabled researchers to identify the start and end points for that particular section of the human DNA. Following this, the DNA was sequenced by means of chromosome walking where each nucleotide was read individually by the analysing system. Multiple such fragments were read in this manner and then arranged with each other such that their common sequences were overlapping each other so that a contiguous sequence could be established.

Note:The Human genome project was started in the year 1990 and it was completed in 2003, two years early of schedule and the first person to have their genome sequenced was Nobel laureate James Watson (found the structure of DNA with Francis Crick).