0
$\begingroup$

I do not have any eductatin in biology, I am a mathematician. However I am reading a book in data science, and am trying to understad an example involving, DNA, mRNA and genes.

From what I understand we have these concepts:

DNA: This is the double helix molecule that makes up our genetic code. The helix is long and consists of a long code, and the code is made up of four molcules and the order in which the molecules occur is the code

Gene: This is different parts of the DNA.

RNA: This is similar to the DNA, but is a single helix. It also consists of four molecules, but one molecule is different from the DNA.

The relevant text is this:

enter image description here

Question:

The author want to measure the amount of genes in a cell by measuring the amount of RNA in that gene? However a gene is something that is in DNA? So by this logic something that is in the DNA consists of RNA, but as I noted above, RNA and DNA are built up of 4 molecules, but one differ, so how can this be?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
4
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ The concept here is which genes are being "read"/ transcribed into mRNA in that cell/tissue. From Nature.com: "Even though nearly every cell in an organism's body contains the same set of genes, only a fraction of these genes are used in any given cell at any given time. It is this carefully controlled pattern of what is called "gene expression" that makes a liver cell different from a muscle cell...(The article is very easy to understand and helpful!) $\endgroup$
    – anongoodnurse
    Commented Jul 28 at 19:42
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @anongoodnurse Thank you very much! I found this in your article very helpful: "Remember, in order to activate a gene, a cell must first copy the DNA sequence of that gene into a piece of mRNA known as a transcript. Thus, by determining which mRNA transcripts are present in a cell, scientists can determine which genes are expressed in that cell at different stages of development and under different environmental conditions. " I think this answers my question. :) If you want you can put this as an answer, and I will accept. $\endgroup$
    – user394334
    Commented Jul 28 at 19:54
  • $\begingroup$ Unfortunately this is very much a basic biology question, which means it falls under the homework policy, and means it will be closed. $\endgroup$
    – bob1
    Commented Jul 28 at 21:36
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ Yes, it's a good article and explains gene expression very well. Thanks for the offer, but I only answer in comments when I know the question will be closed, and think the OP can use a bit of help. :) (I stink at math, so maybe someday, you'll pay it forward for someone like me.) $\endgroup$
    – anongoodnurse
    Commented Jul 28 at 22:25

0

Reset to default

You must log in to answer this question.

Browse other questions tagged .