[10] Gene Expression and Regulation Flashcards
What is gene expression?
Process by which information from a gene is used to create a functional product.
What are the two main stages of gene expression?
- Transcription
- Translation
What happens during transcription?
DNA is copied into RNA.
What happens during translation?
RNA is used to produce proteins.
Where does transcription occur?
In the cell nucleus.
Where does translation occur?
In the cytoplasm, specifically on the ribosomes.
What is the role of RNA polymerase in transcription?
Binds to DNA and separates the DNA strands. It then uses one strand of DNA as a template to assemble the RNA.
What is a promoter?
A region of DNA that initiates transcription of a particular gene.
What is an operon?
A unit of genetic function common in bacteria and phages, consisting of coordinately regulated clusters of genes with related functions.
What is a repressor protein?
A regulatory protein that binds to an operator and blocks transcription of the genes of an operon.
How does gene regulation occur in prokaryotes?
Mainly through operons.
How does gene regulation occur in eukaryotes?
Through transcription factors and modifications to chromatin structure.
What is a transcription factor?
A protein that controls the rate of transcription of genetic information from DNA to mRNA by binding to a specific DNA sequence.
What is epigenetic regulation?
Changes in gene expression that are stable between cell divisions, and sometimes between generations, but do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence.
What is DNA methylation?
Addition of a methyl group to the DNA that often modifies the function of the genes and affects gene expression.
