Genomics is a discipline in
genetics that applies
recombinant DNA,
DNA sequencing methods, and
bioinformatics to sequence, assemble, and analyze the function and structure of
genomes (the
complete set of DNA within a single cell of an organism). Advances in genomics have triggered a revolution in discovery-based research to understand even the most complex biological systems such as the brain. The field includes efforts to determine the entire
DNA sequence of organisms and fine-scale
genetic mapping. The field also includes studies of intragenomic phenomena such as
heterosis,
epistasis,
pleiotropy and other interactions between
loci and
alleles within the genome. In contrast, the investigation of the roles and functions of single genes is a primary focus of
molecular biology or
genetics and is a common topic of modern medical and biological research. Research of single genes does not fall into the definition of genomics unless the aim of this genetic, pathway, and functional information analysis is to elucidate its effect on, place in, and response to the entire genome's networks.