In my biology class, we’re learning about gene regulation/expression and transcription of a gene.
I sort of understood what gene regulation is, but I still don’t understand the steps that go with the process and what transcription is along with what is the purpose of that. I also don’t understand the clear difference between needing mRNA to be synthesized through DNA?
I appreciate your help.
In: Biology
The DNA is like a long keyboard. Depending on which buttons, or “genes” you press, different things happen to cells. Cells can do many things by transforming some molecules into other molecules, in sequences called “biological pathways”. These pathways allow cells to do many things, including helping cells differentiate and organise to become tissues (skin, bone, muscle…), organs, organisms and then… u/Individual_Cobbler.
How you do this? With “gene” regulation. In the same way as on the piano you play specific notes in a specific sequence for a certain duration, cell metabolism is regulated by making sure that those DNA buttons, “genes”, are pressed for the right amount of time, and in the right combination.
But what happens when you “press” a button? Each “gene” does not work on its own: it has to become something else, in the same way as milk has to become cheese. And, like France and Italy, cells have many different types of cheese. Some of these are called “proteins”, some are called “RNA transcripts”. Normally, a “gene” DNA template can’t produce any camembert. To make cheese, molecular machinery first produces a “RNA transcript”, and then the “RNA transcript” is “translated” into a “protein”. In other words, there are different flavours of camembert.
These transcripts and proteins can help press the right buttons on the keyboard. How? By “covering” the buttons, and preventing the cell to play them. Imagine having your keyboard covered in camembert: nobody would like to play it, right? This is what gene regulation is: covering specific buttons in cell’s genetic keyboard with camembert, so that only other buttons will be played at a given time. Different RNA transcripts and proteins play different roles, at specific times, in pressing the keyboard buttons, covering buttons in camembert and removing all that delicious cheese.
tl;dr life is a box of camembert
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