Regulation of Gene Expression – Class 12 | Chapter – 6 | Biology Short Notes Series PDF
Regulation of Gene Expression: Regulation of gene expression refers to a very broad term that may occur at various levels. Considering that gene expression results in the formation of a polypeptide, it can be regulated at several levels.
In eukaryotes, the regulation could be exerted at
- transcriptional level (formation of primary transcript)
- processing level (regulation of splicing)
- transport of mRNA from nucleus to the cytoplasm
- translational level
The genes in a cell are expressed to perform a particular function or a set of functions. For example, if an enzyme called beta-galactosidase is synthesised by E. coli, it is used to catalyse the hydrolysis of a disaccharide, lactose into galactose and glucose; the bacteria use them as a source of energy. Hence, if the bacteria do not have lactose around them to be utilised for energy source, they would no longer require the synthesis of the enzyme beta-galactosidase.
Therefore, in simple terms, it is the metabolic, physiological or environmental conditions that regulate the expression of genes. The development and differentiation of embryo into adult organisms are also a result of the coordinated regulation of expression of several sets of genes.
Regulation of Gene Expression
Gene expression is the process by which the instructions present in our DNA are converted into a functional product, such as a protein. This process is a tightly coordinated process which allows a cell to respond to its changing environment.
During gene expression, genetic codes from the DNA code are converted into a protein with the help of translation and transcription. The genetic expression shows the process of the genetic makeup of an organism as its physical traits. In this process, the information flows from genes to proteins.
To understand this topic better, let us take the example of the Keratin genes. it is a protein that helps in the formation of our hairs, nails, and skin. In most cases, these things grow at a continuous speed as our hairs, nails, and skin get worn down over a period of time. The production of excessive keratin could form many hairs on the skin, dry and hard skin, and thick and long nails. To avoid this, it is necessary to regulate the expression of the keratin gene.
Regulation of gene expression includes different mechanisms through which our cells manage the amount of produced protein by our genes.
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