What is gene expression?
Gene expression turns information in a gene into a functional RNA or protein product.
How it works and what the evidence shows
Core idea Transcription copies DNA information into RNA. For protein-coding genes, ribosomes translate mRNA into an amino acid chain; other gene products remain functional RNAs. Evidence and research Cell types may share a genome yet use genes at different levels. Signals and regulatory elements alter when, where and how much product is made.
Uses and limitations
Why it matters Expression measurements illuminate development, cell specialization and responses to the environment. RNA sequencing can inspect many transcripts together. Common misunderstandings Possessing a gene does not mean it is always active in every cell. RNA abundance is not automatically the same as protein abundance.