BIOL 142 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Microsoft Powerpoint, Acetyl Group, Nucleosome
Biology 142- Lecture 22- Eukaryotic Gene Regulation
Eukaryotic Genetic information
• Humans have nuclei that contain genetic material
• Transcription and translation processes happen independently
o These processes occur simultaneously in prokaryotic cells
Example of Gene Regulation in Rats
• Rat mothers take care of their pups by: licking, grooming, and arch back nursing
• Rat nurturing effects adult rat behavior
o Frequently licked rats are: calm, easier to handle, and respond well to stress
o Infrequently licked rats are: anxious, hard to handle, and fearfully respond to
stress
o Both of these pups have advantages and disadvantages depending on the
environment that they’re in
o Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression (mRNA transcription) levels are higher in
frequently licked pups
▪ A mother’s care during the first week of like can change the expression of
this gene throughout life and have an impact on the adult personality
• This example shows a change in an individual in one generation (from mother to child)
o Evolution cannot bring about a change within one generation
o Environmental genes/traits and the things that you do can impact gene
expression/regulation.
Gene Organization and Accessibility
• Gene organization and accessibility can be used as a means of regulating expression
• Human DNA is not naked
• The human genome is organized into chromosomes
• The genome is a dynamic catalogue system
• DNA Organization:
