Gene expression is the process of how a gene functions within a cell. Researchers study gene expression to examine the relationships between small individual differences in DNA and different drug responses or disease risks. It is a major focus of pharmaceutical research, especially in topics such as obesity and heart disease. Gene expression profiling can identify which genes are playing a role in the condition under study, which could lead to drugs that help control obesity.
Gene expression is the process of how a gene functions within a cell. Researchers study gene expression to examine the relationships between small individual differences in DNA and different drug responses or disease risks. Gene expression has been a major focus of pharmaceutical research. Obesity and the risk of heart disease are two examples of topics where it is a major research focus.
Every cell contains DNA and genes in its nucleus. Genes are the specific instructions for cells that make each person and organism unique. Cells contain many genes and not all of them are active. Within a given cell, certain genes will be “turned on” or “turned off.” When a gene is “on,” it makes proteins or RNA products and affects how the organism works in some way. If a gene is ‘on’, scientists believe it is being expressed.
The “on” and “off” state of all genes in a cell is called a gene expression profile. Each cell has a unique gene expression profile. Research methods called gene expression profiling can identify which genes in a cell or tissue sample are “turned on” or “turned off.” Then, the expression profile is used to tell researchers which genes are playing a role in the condition under study.
For example, scientists could use gene expression to study obesity. Scientists work to see if they can understand the patterns of small genetic differences between obese and normal-weight people by controlling for environmental factors such as diet and exercise. If they can figure out these patterns, they could lead to drugs that help control obesity.
They could do this by designing a study that compares gene expression for groups of individuals who are obese and of normal weight but with similar heights, exercise habits and diets. Comparison of gene expression between these two groups could identify which genes are implicated in obesity. Once these genes are identified, researchers can work on developing diagnostic tests for genetic predispositions and drugs to treat or prevent obesity. These drugs could work by blocking the functioning of genes implicated in obesity or by interacting with DNA in cells and tissues to turn different genes on or off.
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