Gene Expression and Regulation

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards based on the concepts of gene expression and regulation.

Gene Expression

The process by which information from a gene is used to create a functional product, typically a protein or functional RNA.

Inducible Operon

A type of operon that is typically off by default and can be turned on in response to an inducer.

Repressible Operon

An operon that is typically on by default and needs a specific signal to turn it off.

Lac Operon

An inductive operon that contains genes necessary for the digestion of lactose.

Repressor Molecule

A regulatory protein that binds to an operator to prevent transcription of a gene.

Operator

A segment of DNA where a repressor can bind to block transcription.

Promoter

The region of DNA where RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription.

Transcription Factors

Proteins that help RNA polymerase bind to the promoter in eukaryotic cells.

Alternative Splicing

The process by which different combinations of exons are joined together from a single gene, leading to multiple protein products.

Epigenetics

The study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence.

Introns

Non-coding segments of a gene that are removed during RNA processing.

Exons

Coding segments of a gene that are retained in the final mRNA and expressed.

Histones

Proteins that package and manage DNA in chromosomes.

Telomeres

The protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that prevent loss of important DNA during replication.

X Inactivation

The process by which one of the two X chromosomes is randomly inactivated in female mammals.

MI RNA

A type of RNA that can regulate gene expression by binding to mRNA and either promoting its degradation or blocking its translation.

Post-Translational Control

Regulation that occurs after the protein has been synthesized, including modification and degradation of the protein.

Transcriptional Control

The primary method of gene regulation in eukaryotes, involving the binding of transcription factors and RNA polymerase to DNA.

Operon

A cluster of genes under the control of a single promoter that are transcribed together.