Questions tagged [gene-expression]
The process by which information encoded in a gene is converted into a functional protein or RNA, resulting in or contributing to a phenotype.
30
questions
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Redundancy of the genetic code
One particular codon codes only for one amino acid, but an amino acid can be coded for by several different codons. Now according to the genetic code, the codon UUU ...
user9950
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
which exact mechanism triggers the first cell differentiation after n divisions?
I would like to understand which mechanism triggers the first cell differentiation after n divisions.
I read previous articles on SE and Wikipedia articles on cellular differentiation and ...
- 505
5
votes
2
answers
274
views
How is gene expression estimated?
I'm reading this fantastic article on estimating body time: Molecular-timetable methods for detection of body
time and rhythm disorders from single-time-point
genome-wide expression profiles and one ...
- 6,537
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How are there alternative initiation codons?
According to wikipedia and the original complete sequence of the K-12 genome, there are multiple non-AUG start codons such as GUG and UUG. How is this possible? I'm particularly curious about the ...
- 7,857
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What are some examples of genes that code for multiple proteins?
The title pretty much says it all. It is widely taught that a gene in a eukaryotic system could produce more than one protein due to post-transcriptional modification, but I do not believe I have come ...
- 225
4
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Why are most mutations recessive? [duplicate]
Why are most of deleterious mutations recessive in nature? I understood that if it's recessive then one reason may be that the mutant gene doesn't code for a functional protein and so there is no ...
- 303
1
vote
1
answer
207
views
Cell type that expresses 90% of the genome
Cells that are differentiated express the genes that are necessary for their own usage. I've heard that some cell type expresses about 90% of 30,000 proteins that are encoded in the genome. Can ...
- 13
19
votes
2
answers
58k
views
Why do we assume that the first humans were dark-skinned?
According to the article Dark skin and blue eyes: How Europeans once looked:
It is widely accepted that Man's oldest common forefather was dark
skinned, and that people became more pale as they ...
- 301
13
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Which is more important for protein expression mRNA structure or codon optimization?
The field seems extremely divided on the debate. On one hand, artificial experiments have suggested that synonymous mutations don't correlate with gene expression but rather, the mRNA 5' structure is ...
- 7,857
8
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How does the colinearity of the HOX genes determine the body plan of an organism?
I was recently reading about colinearity in the HOX genes that give an organism its high-level body plan (where the order of the HOX genes on the chromosome follow the head-to-tail order of body ...
- 479
7
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What is the instructional language of DNA?
DNA carries most of the genetic instructions used in the development, functioning and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses (Wikipedia).
Is it already know how ATCG's sequences ...
- 103
7
votes
2
answers
5k
views
How can CI repressor both activate and repress $P_{RM}$ promoter found in $\lambda$ phage?
I'm reading a paper where the authors constructed a toggle switch that uses bidirectional $P_R/P_{RM}$ promoter found in the $\lambda$ phage. There are 3 binding sites - $O_{R1}$, $O_{R2}$, $O_{R3}$ - ...
- 511
6
votes
2
answers
237
views
Can molecular genetics make a boolean variable from a continuous variable?
In the same kind of idea than this question. Gene expression are regulated through complex interactions. The concentration of enhancers and repressors is an important aspect that dictate the level of ...
- 67.8k
6
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Lac operon: How can lactose enter the cell in the absence of lactose permease?
My textbook states that
lactose permease...transports lactose into the cell
and
When lactose is added to the growth medium, the lactose molecules bind to the other site on the repressor protein
...
- 2,929
5
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How does optogenetics work?
I am aware of the post here 'Optogenetics - How do microbial opsins work?'
however it is a bit too technical for me. I am struggling to understand how the neurons can be genetically engineered to ...
- 2,929
4
votes
1
answer
664
views
Forward or Reverse Strand: Is there a difference when encoding genetic devices?
Background:
In synthetic biology, and also in nature, there are lots of examples of genes in both the forward and reverse orientation. It seems in synthetic biology/bioengineering, most genetic ...
- 721
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can intron become exon in alternative splicing?
From this image
We can see several exons that are actually introns in other genes. It's not a really a different gene, it's an alternative splicing of a gene. My background is not biology so is it ...
- 151
3
votes
1
answer
446
views
Could fingerprints potentially be changed using a gene gun?
Not to confuse with your "DNA fingerprint" I've read surgery is readily used to not just remove but even to change people's prints through employing very small grafts between opposing hands.
About 5 ...
- 3,675
3
votes
0
answers
142
views
Imperfect dosage compensation
Dosage compensation is used to make up for different copy numbers of the major sex chromosomes in males and females (One X or Z chromosome in one and two in the other). Two main mechanisms of dosage ...
- 16.1k
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Optogenetics - How do microbial opsins work?
I'm just introduced to the optogenetics method and am having some trouble grasping the genetics (of the optogenteics) part of things.
So we have Retinal and Opsin that form Rhodopsin molecule that ...
- 133
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Why is aneuploidy usually lethal?
So, I was reading about aneuploidy and how a zygote with one extra or less chromosome usually would not survive to full term. I suppose this happens because aneuploidy leads to some kind of protein ...
- 147
3
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Lyonization and X-linked disorders?
Lyonization or X-chromosome inactivation is the conversion of all but one, X-chromosomes in Females into non-coding heterochromatin (i.e. deactivated) leading to the formation of one or more Barr ...
- 4,669
2
votes
1
answer
76
views
How to identify the genes that distal enhancers pair?
I am writing a project proposal and I have to talk about this problem: how to identify the genes that distal enhancers pair?
I am really new to this topic and I don't know what it is all about. I ...
- 405
2
votes
0
answers
129
views
Is there a mechanism of timing or delaying the expression of gap genes?
Summary
Gap genes are expressed in presence of the right combination and amount of
transcription factors. But is there any additional mechanism of timing the expression of the gap genes to ensure ...
- 71
2
votes
1
answer
104
views
Confusion related to a term probe-by-background interaction
I was reading a paper related to bioinformatics where it uses the drug response on the cancer cells and the gene expression of the individual cells are studied to find any useful insights. Specially, ...
- 253
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What is a cognate enhancer sequence?
What is a cognate enhancer sequence?
While reading a paper (1) presented at a journal class in graduate school, I encountered this sentence:
HIF-1 binds to its cognate enhancer sequence, the ...
- 121
2
votes
1
answer
378
views
Correct/complete representation of RTPCR statistics
In papers reporting a relative quantification of gene expression by RTPCR, I often see a bar chart with mean ± standard error or deviation, with the deviation belonging to biological replicates. This ...
- 357
1
vote
0
answers
106
views
How to specify a promoter in de novo gene synthesis service?
I am trying to use a de novo gene synthesis service (Genscript) and one part confuses me:
Where do I pick the choice of promoter? Or is the promoter choice automatic based on my plasmid choice?
e.g....
- 714
1
vote
1
answer
358
views
How to put a gene under the control of a regulable promoter?
Suppose I have a hetrologous (eukaryotic, plant) gene sequence that I want to express in E Coli under the control of a regulable promoter (say the lac promoter induced by IPTG) how exactly does one ...
- 714
1
vote
1
answer
952
views
Gene and Protein isoform
What is the relationship between term "Gene isoform" and "Protein isoform"?
Say a gene can make 3 isoforms, will it produce only (maximum) 3 isoform protein?
- 193