WHAT IS GENE EXPRESSION
Gene Expression
DNA contains the instructions for living things to develop, grow, and function. Almost all of the cells in your body contain the exact same DNA, yet you have thousands of different cell types that perform different functions. How does this happen? Through gene expression!
During the process of gene expression, the information encoded in small units of DNA (genes) is turned into a functional
attractors
product, most commonly a protein. When a gene is “on” and its protein or RNA product is being made, scientists say that gene is being expressed. Not all the genes in your body are turned on at the same time or in the same cells or parts of the body. The thousands of genes expressed in a particular cell determine what that cell can do.
1 During transcription, gene sequences are copied into RNA molecules. DNA code= ACTG | RNA code= ACUG 2 To transcribe DNA to RNA, an enzyme called RNA polymerase binds to specific sections of DNA near promot- ers.
3 During translation, RNA is “decoded” into proteins. 3-letter combinations of RNA bases specify one of 20 amino acids. 4 Proteins are
Cell
Nucleus
DNA
Transcription
5 Not all genes provide instructions for proteins. Some provide instructions to build functional RNA mole- cules, regulatory RNAs, and non-protein coding RNAs that change the expression of other genes. made up of many amino acids. More than 20,000 proteins work together to perform all of our bodies’ functions.
mRNA
Cell Membrane
Cytoplasm
Protein
tRNA
Translation
mRNA
Ribosome (rRNA/Protein Complex)
The laboratory of HudsonAlpha faculty researcher Richard Myers, PhD contributes to forefront of transcription work in genetics. The lab is globally recognized as a reference in Transcription Factor Biology. The laboratory recently was featured in publications Genome Research and Nature Neurology about brain TFs and their impact on Alzheimer's disease.
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