Focus on genes

The human genome contains 20 000-25 000 genes. What are these genes, and how are they controlled?

Background


	Epigenetics Changes to DNA and its associated proteins can alter gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. 08/01/03

	Gene expression Genes are transcribed into RNA and then translated to make proteins. 08/01/03

	Gene structure Protein coding genes have a coding region flanked by untranslated regions and may be split into exons and introns. 08/01/03

	Transcriptomics The global study of gene expression at the RNA level. 08/01/03

"Genes are odd things. Small proteins are often encoded by big genes. In the process, much of the excess material has to be cut out and thrown away." Cathal Seoighe, Chris Gehring and Laurence Hurst

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