Activity 3
GENES
by GEORGETTE E. ZALDIVAR
When we say a gene is expressing itself, what does “gene expression” mean in relation to protein synthesis?
When a gene is said to be expressing itself, it means that the gene’s DNA information is undergoing the process of transcription and translation to produce protein. Gene expression is the collective term that is used to refer to the process of transcription and translation, which are procedures essential for a gene to produce a functional protein. Gene expression enables for the DNA information encoded in a gene to be utilized in either making RNA molecules that will, in turn, code for protein, or making non-coding RNA molecules that will be used for other purposes. Essentially, it acts as an on-and-off switch that dictates when and how many proteins are made.