Learning Goal - Protein Synthesis - Transcription as a process required for the expression of genes

3 important questions on Learning Goal - Protein Synthesis - Transcription as a process required for the expression of genes

Outline the major steps of gene expression.

The major steps of gene expression includes the transcription of DNA into RNA, done in the nucleus, the modification of the pre-mRNA that is initially synthesised during transcription to make it mature mRNA, which is also done in the nucleus, and then, translation, which synthesises polypeptides from the information in the mRNA.

State that the pattern of gene expression is how the cells differentiate for different functions.

Basically, the gene expression is what controls the functions of the cells. The genome present in every cell is the same, but which genes are 'switched on', or activated, depends on which cell it is in. The gene required to produce insulin, for example, would be present in potential brain cells. But it would not activate, as that gene is not required to differentiate somatic cells into brain cells. So, gene expression gives rise to differentiated cells.

Outline the role of transcription in regulating gene expression.

Transcription plays a key role in gene expression, as it controls which genes are even transcribed in the first place. Not all cells transcribe every single gene present in the genome at all times, as this is differentiated by which cell the genome is in. Some cells only transcribe a gene for a certain period of time, some genes are never expressed in certain cells etc., which allows for the differentiation of these cells.

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