I. Role of Gene Expression Gene expression is the activation (“turning on”) of a gene ◦ Separation of fingers and toes Genome: complete genetic material contained in an individual sciencedaily.com
Discovered in the early 1960’s by Francois Jacob and Jacques Monod they were studying how genes control the metabolism of sugar lactose (found in milk) in E. coli
Regulator genes code for repressor proteins which stop a gene from being expressed course1.winona.edu
Lactose binds to the repressor protein forcing it to detach and allowing RNA polymerase to begin transcription producing mRNA course1.winona.edu
Much more complex than prokaryotes Multicellular Contain genetic information within the nucleus
Euchromatin- site of active transcription in DNA and RNA **Some portions remain permanently coiled in chromosomes-these genes can never be transcribed** Introns- transcribed but NOT translated Exons- BOTH transcribed and translated
Pre-mRNA ◦ Contains both introns and exons ◦ Exon splicing occurs turning pre-mRNA into mRNA tokresource.org
Path from DNA to Proteins library.thinkquest.org/C006188/basics/rna.htm
Cell Differentiation – cells have specific jobs within the cell ◦ Muscle cells-specialize in movement ◦ Red blood cells-carry oxygen ◦ Liver Cells-break down fat Morphogenesis- development of structure in an organism
Determine where anatomical structures develop during morphogenesis ◦ Anntennapedia-mutation occurring in this gene that makes a leg grow where an antenna should be
Cells are constantly switching genes on and off DNA chip- used for tracking gene expression ◦ Fragments are tagged with a fluorescent compound which lights up when that gene is turned on nih.gov
III.Cancer Cancer- uncontrolled growth of cells that invades other parts of the body Proto-oncogenes- regulate cell growth and division ◦ Mutations change a proto- oncogene into an oncogene Oncogene- uncontrolled cell division and over expression of proteins at the wrong time
Tumor- abnormal proliferation of cells ◦ Benign- growth that doesn’t spread ◦ Malignant-invades and destroys tissues at different places within the body- metastasis pathology.vcu.edubelieve-or-not.blogspot.com
Carcinogen-any substance that promotes cancer (ex. Tobacco smoke, UV rays, viruses) ◦ Mutagens- agents that cause mutations to occur with in a cell Kinds of Cancer Carcinomas- grow in the tissues lining organs Sarcomas-grow in bone and muscle tissue Lymphomas-solid tumors growing in the lymphatic system Leukemia Leukemia- uncontrolled growth in blood tissues. Viruses – stimulate uncontrolled growth in host cells causes some cancers in blood forming tissues and HPV which causes cervical cancer These 3 cancers can occur anywhere within the body but they get there name from the place they start
Whether you are 2 or 92, cancer affects us all. Whether you are black or white, red, brown or, yellow, Cancer does not discriminate! Everyone is susceptible to cancer... you... your spouse... cancer doesn't care if you are rich, poor or somewhere in between.