Genetics: Gene Regulation & Epigenetics
Genetics: Gene Regulation & Epigenetics
💡 Key Takeaways
- Understand how transcription factors and regulatory DNA elements (promoters, enhancers) control when a gene is turned on or off.
- Explain DNA methylation and histone modifications as epigenetic marks that modulate chromatin accessibility and gene expression.
- Describe how epigenetic states can be inherited through cell divisions and influence development and cell identity.
- Recognize the roles of non-coding RNAs (e.g., microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs) in gene regulation and epigenetic control.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is gene regulation?
Gene regulation is how cells control when, where, and how much a gene is expressed, affecting the production of RNA and proteins.
What is epigenetics?
Epigenetics studies heritable changes in gene activity not due to DNA sequence changes, often via DNA methylation, histone modification, or chromatin remodeling.
How do transcription factors influence gene expression?
Transcription factors bind to promoter or enhancer regions to activate or repress transcription, often acting in combinations to refine expression patterns.
What is DNA methylation and its role in regulation?
DNA methylation adds methyl groups to cytosines (usually CpG sites), typically reducing gene expression by blocking transcription factor access or recruiting repressive proteins.