Gene Expression Overview

Principles

Definition

Gene expression is the fundamental biological process and central research concept in molecular biology investigating how the information encoded in a gene is converted into a functional product, such as a protein or RNA molecule. This field examines the complex regulatory mechanisms governing gene activity, their dynamic variation across cells and time, and their ultimate influence on phenotype and biological function.

Ontological type

Core Mechanisms

Regulatory Networks

Disease and Therapeutics

Key developments

Key Figures

Molecular Basis of Gene Expression era

Paul Berg[1] is a central figure in the Molecular Basis of Gene Expression era, with affiliations at Harvard University[3] and Massachusetts Institute of Technology[4] during this period. His 1977 work Labeling deoxyribonucleic acid to high specific activity in vitro by nick translation with DNA polymerase I[6] advanced radiolabeling techniques, enabling tracking of genetic material and gene expression processes that were crucial for dissecting promoters and RNA maturation in this era. Allan M. Maxam[2] is likewise a pivotal figure, associated with Harvard University[3] and Tufts University[5], and his 1977 paper A new method for sequencing DNA[7] introduced a practical sequencing approach that transformed genome analysis. This sequencing method laid the groundwork for genome-wide analysis, operon and promoter studies, and RNA maturation investigations that defined the era's mechanistic view of gene expression.

Regulatory Networks and Epigenetics era

Todd R. Golub[1] was active in the Regulatory Networks and Epigenetics era alongside Harvard University[3] and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology[4]. His key contributions include Gene set enrichment analysis[5], a knowledge-based approach for interpreting genome-wide expression profiles, and MicroRNA expression profiles classify human cancers[6], which highlighted the diagnostic potential of small RNA patterns. Eric S. Lander[2] was active in the era at Harvard University[3] and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology[4]. His sole era paper, Gene set enrichment analysis[5], offered a knowledge-based framework for interpreting genome-wide expression profiles, enabling pathway- and network-level inferences that informed development and disease research in this era.

RNA-Centric Transcriptomics era

Wolfgang Huber [1] is associated with Heidelberg University [3] and ETH Zurich [4] during the RNA-Centric Transcriptomics era. His key contributions include the moderated estimation of fold change and dispersion for RNA-seq data with DESeq2 [7], enabling robust differential expression analysis that underpins RNA-centric transcriptomics in this era. Cole Trapnell [2] has been affiliated with Harvard University [5] and MIT [6] during this era. His key contributions include Transcript assembly and quantification by RNA-Seq reveals unannotated transcripts and isoform switching during cell differentiation [8], TopHat2: accurate alignment of transcriptomes in the presence of insertions, deletions and gene fusions [9], and Integrative annotation of human large intergenic noncoding RNAs reveals global properties and specific subclasses [10], collectively enabling discovery of unannotated transcripts, isoform switching, improved splice-site mapping, and comprehensive noncoding RNA annotation that underpin RNA-centric analyses.