When we say a gene is expressing itself, what does "gene expression" mean in relation to protein synthesis?
- The process known as genetic expression is the one that puts the genetic code, which is the nucleotide sequence of a gene, to work in order to direct protein synthesis and build the many components that make up a cell. Both transcription and translation are required in the process of turning on a gene so that it can make a certain protein. Proteins are produced when genes are transcribed into mRNA, which then undergoes translation to become amino acids, which are then covalently linked together to form proteins. The formation of proteins is referred to as the protein synthesis. It is common practice to regard gene expression and protein synthesis to be the same process since, when a gene has been expressed, the protein that is the result of that gene is typically synthesized.