Attributing functions to genes and gene products.
1Wolstein Research Building, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-7288, USA. neil.greenspan@case.edu
Trends in Biochemical Sciences
|January 29, 2011
Summary
Understanding biological function requires clarifying how structure relates to it. This study distinguishes multiple senses of function to reduce scientific misunderstandings and improve clarity in research.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Modern research attributes function to biological structures like genes.
- Attributing function can lead to misunderstandings due to logical complexity.
- Current approaches often fail to distinguish different meanings of 'function'.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the relationship between biological structure and function.
- To explore distinct ways functions are connected to structures.
- To make explicit the multiple senses of function and their context-dependence.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of structure-function relationships.
- Exploration of logical complexities in function attribution.
- Distinguishing different senses of biological function.
Main Results:
- Identified distinct ways functions are associated with structures.
- Highlighted factors contributing to the context-dependence of structure-function links.
- Provided a framework for explicating multiple senses of function.
Conclusions:
- Explicitly defining the senses of function is crucial for biochemical, biophysical, and cell biological research.
- Distinguishing function senses can resolve controversies and improve clarity.
- A nuanced understanding of function enhances the attribution of function to biological structures.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:57Gene Families
Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
01:57Gene Families
Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
03:36Genome Annotation and Assembly
The genome refers to all of the genetic material in an organism. It can range from a few million base pairs in microbial cells to several billion base pairs in many eukaryotic organisms. Genome assembly refers to the process of taking the DNA sequencing data and putting it all back together in a correct order to create a close representation of the original genome. This is followed by the identification of functional elements on the newly assembled genome, a process called genome annotation.
01:30Structure of a Gene
A gene is the fundamental unit of heredity. Every individual has two copies of each gene, one inherited from each parent. Although most people contain the same genes, there is a small fraction that is slightly different amongst people. A gene with a small difference in its sequence of DNA bases forms different alleles, contributing to different phenotypes.
However, only 1% of the DNA is composed of genes that encode proteins; the rest, 99% is non-coding DNA. This non-coding DNA performs...
However, only 1% of the DNA is composed of genes that encode proteins; the rest, 99% is non-coding DNA. This non-coding DNA performs...
01:36What 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 processed and...
01:42What 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...
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...