Metabolomics

Definition

Metabolomics is the comprehensive study of small molecules, known as metabolites, within cells, biofluids, tissues, or organisms. It aims to understand metabolic changes and pathways at a global level.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Metabolomics involves the systematic identification and quantification of metabolites in biological systems.
2. It provides insights into the metabolic state of a cell or organism and can be used to study disease mechanisms.
3. Mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are commonly used techniques in metabolomics.
4. Metabolomics data can help link genotype to phenotype by revealing how genetic variations affect metabolic processes.
5. This field is crucial for biomarker discovery, which can lead to early disease detection or monitoring of treatment efficacy.

Review Questions

• What is the primary focus of metabolomics?
• Which techniques are most commonly used in metabolomics studies?
• How can metabolomics contribute to our understanding of disease mechanisms?

Related terms

Genomics:

The study of the complete set of DNA (including all genes) in an organism.

Proteomics:

The large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures and functions.

Biomarker: A measurable indicator of some biological state or condition often used for diagnosing diseases.