Expressed Sequence Tags

Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) are short DNA sequences derived from cDNA (complementary DNA) libraries that are used to identify genes and measure gene expression in different tissues and organisms. ESTs are important for gene characterization, especially when the gene sequence is known, but the exact role of the gene is unknown. ESTs have a wide range of applications, including gene identification, gene function prediction, gene expression measurement, and genome annotation. They are also useful for the development of genetic markers for population mapping, as well as for the discovery of conserved non-coding regions of the genome involved in regulating gene expression. ESTs are a valuable tool for functional genomics, helping scientists to identify important regulatory elements and understand gene regulation processes.