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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 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...

Reporter Genes

Reporter Genes

Reporter genes are a type of protein-coding gene that are often tagged to a gene of interest. Once inside a target cell, reporter genes usually produce visually identifiable characteristics like fluorescence and luminescence when expressed along with the gene of interest. Thus, reporter genes “report” the presence or absence of genes of interest in an organism, determine the gene expression pattern, or track the physical location of a DNA segment or protein in the cell.

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Chromatin Position Affects Gene Expression

Chromatin Position Affects Gene Expression

Chromatin is the massive complex of DNA and proteins packaged inside the nucleus. The complexity of chromatin folding and how it is packaged inside the nucleus greatly influences access to genetic information. Generally, the nucleus' periphery is considered transcriptionally repressive, while the cell's interior is considered a transcriptionally active area.
Topologically Associated Domains (TADs)
The 3-dimensional positioning of chromatin in the nucleus influences the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 15, 2026

In Vivo Monitoring of Circadian Clock Gene Expression in the Mouse Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Using Fluorescence Reporters

In Vivo Monitoring of Circadian Clock Gene Expression in the Mouse Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Using Fluorescence Reporters

Published on: July 4, 2018

Ratiometric Gas Reporting: A Nondisruptive Approach To Monitor Gene Expression in Soils.

Hsiao-Ying Cheng, Caroline A Masiello, Ilenne Del Valle

ACS Synthetic Biology

|January 26, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A novel ratiometric gas reporting method allows gene expression monitoring in challenging environments like soil. This ethylene and methyl bromide system enables non-disruptive biosensing in hard-to-image matrices.

Keywords:

biosensor gene expression reporter signaling soil synthetic biology

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Last Updated: Feb 15, 2026

In Vivo Monitoring of Circadian Clock Gene Expression in the Mouse Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Using Fluorescence Reporters

In Vivo Monitoring of Circadian Clock Gene Expression in the Mouse Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Using Fluorescence Reporters

Published on: July 4, 2018

Monitoring Cell-autonomous Circadian Clock Rhythms of Gene Expression Using Luciferase Bioluminescence Reporters

Monitoring Cell-autonomous Circadian Clock Rhythms of Gene Expression Using Luciferase Bioluminescence Reporters

Published on: September 27, 2012

Measurement of Greenhouse Gas Flux from Agricultural Soils Using Static Chambers

Measurement of Greenhouse Gas Flux from Agricultural Soils Using Static Chambers

Published on: August 3, 2014

Area of Science:

Synthetic biology
Environmental microbiology
Biosensor development

Background:

Fluorescent proteins are common for monitoring genetic circuits but limited to transparent samples.
Measuring gene expression in opaque matrices like soil and sediment is challenging.
There is a need for non-disruptive methods to assess biological activity in environmental samples.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a novel ratiometric gas reporting system for non-disruptive gene expression monitoring.
To create biosensors capable of functioning in difficult-to-image environmental matrices.
To validate the system's utility in soil and sediment environments.

Main Methods:

Utilized ethylene (C2H4) synthesis for viable cell number and methyl bromide (CH3Br) synthesis for conditional gene expression.
Engineered Escherichia coli biosensors responsive to acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) autoinducers.
Applied the ratiometric gas reporting method in agricultural soil and sediment samples.

Main Results:

Demonstrated successful non-disruptive gene expression monitoring in environmental matrices.
Showed that agricultural soil significantly reduces bioavailable long-chain AHL concentrations (up to 100-fold).
Successfully monitored AHL synthesis and degradation by specific bacterial species in situ within soil.

Conclusions:

The ratiometric gas reporting method offers a viable alternative to fluorescent reporters for gene expression analysis in complex environments.
This technology enables non-disruptive assessment of microbial activity and signaling in soils and sediments.
The developed biosensors are effective tools for studying bacterial communication and ecological interactions in situ.