[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.
What is histone modification?
Additions of chemical groups onto histone proteins that can influence gene expression.
What is RNA interference (RNAi)?
A mechanism for RNA-guided regulation of gene expression.
What is the role of microRNAs (miRNAs)?
These small, non-coding RNAs regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally.
What is alternative splicing?
Process by which the exons of the RNA produced by transcription of a gene are reconnected in multiple ways during RNA splicing.
How does gene regulation contribute to cellular differentiation?
It allows for cells to develop into their specialized types by expressing only the genes needed for their specific functions.
