gene
Introduction
Functional units of heredity constructed from DNA. Genes store information transcribed in the form of RNA using the sequence of DNA as the template. There are an estimated 21,800-22,600 protein-coding genes in the human genome[5].
Segments of the gene transcript may be spliced from the RNA prior to translation of messenger RNA into proteins. These segments are called introns. Exons are segments of the transcribed gene which are not spliced.
Upstream or 5' to the transcriptional start site are regions of DNA that contain sequences that regulate expression of the gene through binding of transcription factors. Within the 1st 100 base pairs of the start site, these elements are called promoter elements; further upstream, often several hundred base pairs, the elements are called enhancer elements. Enhancer elements may also be found downstream or 3' to the transcribed region of the gene.
Genes may be clustered within chromosomal loops which attach to the nuclear matrix.
More general terms
More specific terms
- bicistronic gene
- evolutionary divergent human gene
- gene with TATA box
- homeobox gene
- housekeeping gene
- human longevity gene
- hypoxia induced genes
- imprinted gene
- invertebrate-specific gene
- mitochondrial gene
- non-human gene
- oncogene or viral oncogene
- p53-responsive gene
- proto-oncogene
- ribosomal RNA gene (rRNA gene)
- small nuclear RNA [snRNA] gene
- T box gene
- tRNA gene
- tumor suppressor gene or anti-oncogene
- unclassified gene
- viral gene
- Xg blood group locus
Additional terms
- gene cluster
- gene duplication
- gene expression
- transposon (jumping gene, transposable element, mobile genetic element, selfish DNA)
References
- ↑ Stedman's Medical Dictionary 27th ed, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999
- ↑ Microarrays for the Neurosciences, Geschwind DH & Greg JP (eds), MIT Press, Cambridge MA, 2002
- ↑ International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium. Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome. Nature. 2004 Oct 21;431(7011):931-45. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15496913
- ↑ Z. Cao, et al, The genome of Mesobuthus martensii reveals a unique adaptation model of arthropods. Nat Commun. 2013;4:2602 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24129506
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Pertea1 M and Salzberg SL Between a chicken and a grape: estimating the number of human genes. Genome Biol. 2010; 11(5): 206 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2898077/