Transcription
The process of copying a gene's DNA sequence into messenger RNA. RNA polymerase reads the DNA template and synthesizes a complementary RNA strand.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 5 chapters:
"...er cell doesn't express the genes for making neurons, and a neuron doesn't express the genes for detoxifying alcohol. Gene expression is regulated by transcription factors - proteins that bind to DNA and turn genes "on" or "off." Environmental signals - temperature, light, nutrients, chemicals, stress - affect ..."
"Cell division halts - don't reproduce if your offspring will starve. Autophagy activates. Stress resistance pathways engage (FOXO and HSF1 transcription factors activate, producing antioxidant enzymes and heat shock proteins). This is the K-strategy: survive until conditions improve."
"When autoinducer concentration crosses a threshold (reflecting high cell density), receptors activate transcription factors (proteins that activate genes). 5. Coordinated gene expression: Activated transcription factors turn on quorum-sensing-regulated genes si..."
"...arious ways to produce the hundreds of thousands of distinct proteins found across life. The same DNA-binding domain appears in hundreds of different transcription factors, each regulating different genes based on their other domains and regulatory sequences. The same kinase domain architecture appears in over 5..."
"...ness to individual failures - extends beyond genes to regulatory networks. Many critical developmental processes are controlled by multiple redundant transcription factors. The development of the vertebrate brain requires several transcription factors with overlapping expression patterns and target genes."
Biological Context
Transcription is the first step of gene expression. It's heavily regulated—cells control which genes are transcribed and when. Transcription factors bind to promoter regions to activate or repress genes.
Business Application
Business transcription: converting tacit knowledge into explicit documentation. Like genetic transcription, organizational transcription creates working copies from master templates.