• Question: what is gene regulation,and how will it help?

    Asked by sikhsoldier to Steve on 24 Jun 2010 in Categories: . This question was also asked by nightthorne.
    • Photo: Steven Kiddle

      Steven Kiddle answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      DNA contains genes, these are passed down from your parents and tell the cell how to make more cells and how to work with other cells to make a full organism. But genes are not used unless they are “turned on” or “read out” into RNA. This is then “read out” into protein, kinda like 0 and 1s on a computer code for computer games. So gene regulation is the method by which genes are turned on or off, usually by proteins that are themselves coded for by genes.

      Gene regulation is loosely analgous to electrical circuits, where you can apply an input like turning a switch and get an output like radio, in organisms the circuits are activated by an input such as the detection of a disease and in return produces chemicals that can be used to fight off the infection. If we understood this circuit we could work out how better to protect plants from disease.

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