Understanding Cohort Studies and the Exome

1. Cohort Studies

Cohort studies are a type of longitudinal study—an approach that follows research participants over a period of time (often many years). Specifically, cohort studies recruit and follow participants who share a common characteristic, such as a particular occupation or demographic similarity.

2. The Exome

An exome is the sequence of all the exons in a genome, reflecting the protein-coding portion of a genome. In humans, the exome accounts for approximately 1.5% of the entire genome.