2 ms·
In the simplest terms: Gene expression constantly changes. It's a field known as epigenetics. You have tons of genes, not all of which are constantly active.
by crowbahr 5y ago
In the simplest terms:
Gene expression constantly changes. It's a field known as epigenetics.
You have tons of genes, not all of which are constantly active.
You have histones in your DNA that allow certain portions to be read while others are locked away. This changes how your genes activate.
- VeninVidiaVicii 5y agoGene expression is not just epigenetics, bacteria also obviously express genes, but largely have no epigenome. Gene expression changes due to environmental signals, and it happens all the time.
- valarauko 5y agoGene expression >>> epigenetic changes. Epigenetics is just one of the mechanisms that regulate gene expression in some organisms, but there are many many more mechanisms at play. All cells of a given cell type don't express the same genes at the same level, or even maintain the same expression profile from hour to hour.
- robwwilliams 5y agoClose. But much of the control of gene expression is not formally epigenetic. Much is due to modulation by transcription factors and mRNA splicing machinery. Clearly related to DNA access for transcription but not what is typically meant by epigenetics.