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What is Gene Expression?

What is Gene Expression?

Overview
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...

What is Natural Selection?

What is Natural Selection?

Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.

Types of Selection

Types of Selection

Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).

What is Gene Expression?

What is Gene Expression?

No description available

What is Gene Expression?

What is Gene Expression?

A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is comprised of nucleotides and proteins are comprised of amino acids, a mediator is required to convert the information encoded in DNA into proteins. This mediator is the messenger RNA (mRNA). mRNA copies the blueprint from DNA by a process called transcription. In eukaryotes, transcription occurs in the nucleus by complementary base-pairing with the DNA template. The mRNA is then...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Overexpressing Long Noncoding RNAs Using Gene-activating CRISPR

Overexpressing Long Noncoding RNAs Using Gene-activating CRISPR

Published on: March 1, 2019

Natural selection on gene expression.

Yoav Gilad¹, Alicia Oshlack, Scott A Rifkin

¹Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Il 60637, USA. gilad@uchicago.edu

Trends in Genetics : TIG

|June 30, 2006

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Gene expression levels in primates and model organisms primarily evolve under stabilizing selection, indicating most mutations are harmful. This has implications for understanding genetic regulation and human diseases.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Genetics
Genomics

Background:

Genetic regulation changes drive adaptations and disease susceptibility.
Selective pressures on gene expression remain largely unknown.
Previous studies show conflicting evidence regarding gene expression evolution in primates versus model organisms.

Purpose of the Study:

To reconcile disparate interpretations of gene expression evolution.
To determine the dominant mode of gene expression evolution in primates and model organisms.
To assess the implications of gene expression evolution for human diseases.

Main Methods:

Microarray-based observations were discussed.
Comparative analysis of gene expression evolution across species.

Main Results:

Stabilizing selection is the dominant mode of gene expression evolution in both primates and model organisms.
Contrary to some proposals, gene expression in primates appears to be under significant selective constraint.
A minority of gene expression changes may reflect adaptive evolution.

Conclusions:

Stabilizing selection is the primary force shaping gene expression evolution.
Mutations impacting gene expression are frequently deleterious.
Deleterious mutations in gene expression may contribute to the etiology of numerous human diseases.