What is gene annotation?

Gene annotation is the process of identifying the locations and functions of genes in a genome sequence. It involves identifying the coding regions (exons), introns, regulatory sequences, and other important features within the DNA sequence. This information is crucial for understanding the genetic basis of traits and diseases, as well as for studying the evolutionary relationships between organisms.

Gene annotation typically involves a combination of computational algorithms and experimental techniques. Computational methods analyze DNA sequences to predict the locations of genes based on features such as open reading frames, sequence conservation, and regulatory elements. Experimental techniques, such as RNA sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation, provide additional evidence to validate and refine the computational predictions.