What is a biological sample?

A biological sample is a small quantity of biological material, such as blood or urine, for use in laboratory analyses such as biochemical tests or DNA analyses that provide results that are useful in health research.

What is research data?

Data are information collected using systematic methods (i.e. accurate and constant) suitable for use in scientific research.

Government information may sometimes be used in health research.

Generally, the results of population-based analyses do not relate to the individuals.

What is a physical measurement?

A physical measurement is an evaluation of a body characteristic, and is taken using a precise measuring device. It may form part of the research data.

Physical measurements taken during an interview with a CARTaGENE project nurse may include weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, respiratory volume, grip strength, etc.

What is a research questionnaire?

A research questionnaire is a series of precise questions created and tested very rigorously in order to collect information for use as valid data.

The answers to these questions are systematically and rigorously compiled so that they may be useful in scientific research.

Thus, with these questions, CARTaGENE collects information on lifestyle and living environments, as well as health statuses.

What is a Biobank?

It is a structured collection of biological samples stored for use in future research projects.

The CARTaGENE samples are stored in the Genome Quebec Biobank in Saguenay.

What is a database?

It is an organized collection of data stored in electronic format.

Some databases may be useful for scientific research.

What is a code and what is it used for?

A code is a number used to replace personal information (name, address, telephone number and medical insurance number) contained in a database, databank or Biobank.

Codes are used to protect the identity of the people who supplied the information.

Codes are used to avoid going back to identifiable information (name, address, etc.) when regrouping data on a given individual.

What is genetics?

Human genetics research allows for a better knowledge of human genes.

This knowledge concerns how genes function and interact with each other and with the environment, and how they evolve.

Genetics studies the role genes play in various biological phenomena, for example, their influence on health and diseases.

More and more scientists study genetics in order to understand how genes interact with each other, our lifestyles and the environment.

Scientists also hope to understand how these interactions together contribute to health and to diseases.

What is a gene?

A gene is a unit of biological information that is sufficient for the synthesis of molecules fulfilling one or many functions in biological organisms.

This information is transmitted from an organism to its descendants in the form of DNA.

In other words, genes are a sequence of DNA containing biological information that is transmitted from an organism to its descendants.

What is the genome?

The genome is the complete genetic information concerning an organism, including its genes.

The genome contains all the biological information of an organism, in the form of DNA molecules.

What is genomics?

It’s the science that studies the structure, function and evolution of genomes.

What is genome sequencing?

It is an in-depth, detailed analysis of the fine structure of a very large number of DNA sequences, including genes, which constitute a genome.

Complete genome sequencing has been done for certain living species (for example humans, rice, mouse, etc.).

What is population genomics?

It is the study of the genetic composition of a population (or group) and of the factors influencing this composition, as well as its evolution and adaptation.

Are there any web sites that provide a simplified scientific explanation of genetics and genomics?

Taken from the CORAMH web site (in French only): includes a glossary and a section about genetics, genomics and heredity
 
http://www.coramh.org/coramh/

Taken from the Humgen web site (French and English)

http://www.humgen.umontreal.ca/int/faq.cfm?Idsuj=3&lang=1

Taken from the Genome Canada web site

http://www.genomecanada.ca/xpublic/dnaBasics/whatIsGenomics.asp?l=e&

Taken from the Genome Quebec web site : a glossary

http://www.genomequebec.com/GQglossaire/glossaire/index.asp?l=e&

General information:

Hhttp://nature.ca/genome/index_f.cfmH (Francais)

Hhttp://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/project/info.shtmlH (Anglais)

http://www.genetests.org/servlet/access?id=8888892&key=X6fx7q-P-inyZ&fcn=y&fw=FGPb&filename=/tools/concepts/index.html