Unit 3: Intro to regulating Gene Expression

Question 1

Why are cells types in your body different, even though they have the same genes?

Answer 1

Because they regulate gene expression, meaning they make different protein from the same gene.

Question 2

What is gene expression?

Answer 2

The process by which cells make different proteins from the same genes.

Question 3

How do cells respond to environment factors?

Answer 3

By changing which genes they are expressing (i.e., which proteins they make).

Question 4

What are the four main ways a cell controls which proteins are present and active?

Answer 4

1. Whether and how much a gene is transcribed.
2. How a gene’s mRNA is processed (in eukaryotes).
3. An mRNA’s stability (how long it lasts).
4. Whether, where, and how much an mRNA is translated.
5. How a protein is processed after translation.

Question 5

What is transcription?

Answer 5

The process of copying of a gene’s DNA sequence into RNA.

Question 6

What is mRNA processing (in eukaryotes)?

Answer 6

Modifications made to mRNA before it leaves the nucleus, sun gas splicing and adding a cap and tail.

Question 7

What is mRNA stability?

Answer 7

How long a mRNA molecule lasts before it is degraded.

Question 8

What is translation?

Answer 8

The process of using mRNA to synthesize proteins.