Polymorphism
Mutation carried by more than 1% of the population
Fluctuation test
Gene regulation
cellular transcription machinery controls whether or not genes are expressed and to what level
Structural mutations
alter protein/RNA structure or activity
Regulatory mutations
alter gene expression
Control at transcription
Control at translation
Control at folding
What does transcriptional gene regulation involve
Promoter
specific sequence to aid gene recognition and start transcription, RNA pol binds here
Strong promoters
initiate transcription faster which has sequences that bind well
Weak promoters
bind RNA less well
Key sites for activator/repressor function
Lac operon - NO LACTOSE
repressor binds to operator - no transcription
Lac operon - LACTOSE PRESENT
lactose binds to repressor so it cannot bind to operator, transcription occurs
Oc mutations
cis acting
effect restricted to only the chromosome where the mutation is located
I mutation
defective repressor protein which cant bind to operon
operon always on
trans acting
Trans acting
effects multiple genes
cAMP in lac operon
high glucose, no lactose, no cAMP
no transcription
high glucose, high lactose, no cAMP
little transcription
low glucose, high lactose, high cAMP
high transcription
Negative control
inactivates repressor