Gene Expression Blockage

Definition

This refers to the process where a gene's information is prevented from being used to create proteins, effectively blocking the gene from functioning.

Analogy

Imagine you're baking a cake and you have all the ingredients (genes) needed. But suddenly, your sugar (a specific gene) is blocked or taken away. You can't make the cake without that ingredient, just like how a cell can't function properly without certain genes.

Related terms

Epigenetics: The study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.

Gene Silencing: The regulation of gene expression in a cell to prevent the expression of a certain gene.

Transcription Factors: Proteins involved in the process of converting, or transcribing, DNA into RNA. They play a crucial role in regulating gene expression.