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Home >> Genetics >>Regulation of Gene Expression>> Regulation of Gene Expression

Regulation of Gene Expression

Gene expression
refers to the manifestation of a phenotypic character by the activity of gene. A gene expresses its character by producing a protein or an enzyme. During gene expression, there is a flow of genetic information from DNA to proteins. Gene expression involves two main steps namely transcription and translation.

Regulation of Gene Expression
Each adult cell contains the full set of genes necessary for the development of an adult animal. However, in any cell all the genes will not function to synthesize proteins. Only one or a few genes will be functioning in any adult. The other genes will not function and synthesize proteins. The genes which are functioning, are said to be switched off and the genes which are not functioning, are said to be switched on.  As for example, in the cells of islets of Langerhans, the genes responsible for the synthesis of insulin are switched on and all other genes are switched off; in the cells of the oviduct, the genes responsible for ovalbumin switched on and all other genes are switched off.

 

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