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Cis-regulatory Sequences

Cis-regulatory Sequences

Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...

Cis-regulatory Sequences

Cis-regulatory Sequences

Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...

Transcription

Transcription

Overview
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...

Transcription

Transcription

Transcription is the synthesis of RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in correctly synthesizing messenger RNA (mRNA). Transcriptional regulation is responsible for the differentiation of different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds of RNA Molecules
In eukaryotes,...

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Quantitative Comparison of cis-Regulatory Element (CRE) Activities in Transgenic Drosophila melanogaster

Quantitative Comparison of cis-Regulatory Element (CRE) Activities in Transgenic Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: December 19, 2011

Regulatory DNAs and the evolution of human development.

James P Noonan¹

¹Department of Genetics and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. james.noonan@yale.edu

Current Opinion in Genetics & Development

|November 17, 2009

Summary

Investigating human-specific regulatory DNA changes reveals genetic factors driving unique human biology. This research integrates genomic data and developmental studies to understand evolutionary differences.

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Quantitative Comparison of cis-Regulatory Element (CRE) Activities in Transgenic Drosophila melanogaster

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Published on: December 19, 2011

Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Genomics
Developmental biology

Background:

Gene regulation differences are key to human-primate divergence.
Studying human-specific DNA changes in development is now feasible.

Purpose of the Study:

Identify regulatory DNA sequences with human-specific developmental functions.
Uncover the genetic basis of unique human biology.

Main Methods:

Comparative genomic analyses.
Genome-wide in vivo developmental enhancer screens.
Integration of human development gene expression atlases and human-specific sequence change maps.

Main Results:

Thousands of regulatory elements identified.
Identification of regulatory sequences with human-specific developmental activities.
Development of an integrated strategy combining multiple data types.

Conclusions:

An integrated strategy combining genomic, developmental, and evolutionary data can reveal the genetic underpinnings of human uniqueness.
This approach provides a framework for future research into human-specific biology.