Research on the Computational Prediction of Essential Genes

Yuxin Guo; Ying Ju; Dong Chen; Lihong Wang

doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.803608

Research on the Computational Prediction of Essential Genes

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Dec 6:9:803608. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.803608. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Yuxin Guo^{1

2

3

4}, Ying Ju⁵, Dong Chen⁶, Lihong Wang⁷

Affiliations

¹ Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Quzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Quzhou, China.
² Key Laboratory of Computational Science and Application of Hainan Province, Haikou, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Data Science and Intelligence Education, Hainan Normal University, Ministry of Education, Haikou, China.
⁴ School of Mathematics and Statistics, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, China.
⁵ School of Informatics, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
⁶ College of Electrical and Information Engineering, Quzhou University, Quzhou, China.
⁷ Beidahuang Industry Group General Hospital, Harbin, China.

Abstract

Genes, the nucleotide sequences that encode a polypeptide chain or functional RNA, are the basic genetic unit controlling biological traits. They are the guarantee of the basic structures and functions in organisms, and they store information related to biological factors and processes such as blood type, gestation, growth, and apoptosis. The environment and genetics jointly affect important physiological processes such as reproduction, cell division, and protein synthesis. Genes are related to a wide range of phenomena including growth, decline, illness, aging, and death. During the evolution of organisms, there is a class of genes that exist in a conserved form in multiple species. These genes are often located on the dominant strand of DNA and tend to have higher expression levels. The protein encoded by it usually either performs very important functions or is responsible for maintaining and repairing these essential functions. Such genes are called persistent genes. Among them, the irreplaceable part of the body's life activities is the essential gene. For example, when starch is the only source of energy, the genes related to starch digestion are essential genes. Without them, the organism will die because it cannot obtain enough energy to maintain basic functions. The function of the proteins encoded by these genes is thought to be fundamental to life. Nowadays, DNA can be extracted from blood, saliva, or tissue cells for genetic testing, and detailed genetic information can be obtained using the most advanced scientific instruments and technologies. The information gained from genetic testing is useful to assess the potential risks of disease, and to help determine the prognosis and development of diseases. Such information is also useful for developing personalized medication and providing targeted health guidance to improve the quality of life. Therefore, it is of great theoretical and practical significance to identify important and essential genes. In this paper, the research status of essential genes and the essential genome database of bacteria are reviewed, the computational prediction method of essential genes based on communication coding theory is expounded, and the significance and practical application value of essential genes are discussed.

Keywords: communication coding; database; essential genes; machine learning; minimum feature group.

Publication types

Review