What is the function of autosomes?
Each autosome stores many thousands genes, each of which performs a unique function in the organism’s cells.
Under normal circumstances, each chromosome follows a “map” that is shared across individuals in the species. This allows cells to “know” where to start gene expression when they want to express a certain gene. It is thought that factors which effect gene expression use this “map” to accurately respond to a cell’s needs.
When autosomes are healthy, this enables cells to perform an awesome array of functions. Each of hundreds of subtly differing cell types in a eukaryotic organism express a different combination of genes in the right place at the right time, enabling the huge array of cellular functions we see in eukaryotic organisms like ourselves.
Each of our cells contain the necessary compliment of genes to reproduce our whole bodies. Differences between brain cells, skin cells, and muscle cells are made by cells transcribing the right genes in the right places at the right times.
Our bodies get it right almost all the time! But biologists often learn how something works by watching cases where it breaks, and seeing what happens when the mechanism is not working properly.
In the case of autosomes and their carefully arranged “map” that allows for the complexity of our bodies, problems can arise when chromosomes break and their pieces end up in the wrong place.
This event, called “translocation,” can cause genes to the expression of the wrong genes at the wrong times. Some types of cancer may be caused by translocations leading to errors in cell development and reproduction.
Each autosome stores many thousands genes, each of which performs a unique function in the organism’s cells.
Under normal circumstances, each chromosome follows a “map” that is shared across individuals in the species. This allows cells to “know” where to start gene expression when they want to express a certain gene. It is thought that factors which effect gene expression use this “map” to accurately respond to a cell’s needs.
When autosomes are healthy, this enables cells to perform an awesome array of functions. Each of hundreds of subtly differing cell types in a eukaryotic organism express a different combination of genes in the right place at the right time, enabling the huge array of cellular functions we see in eukaryotic organisms like ourselves.
Each of our cells contain the necessary compliment of genes to reproduce our whole bodies. Differences between brain cells, skin cells, and muscle cells are made by cells transcribing the right genes in the right places at the right times.
Our bodies get it right almost all the time! But biologists often learn how something works by watching cases where it breaks, and seeing what happens when the mechanism is not working properly.
In the case of autosomes and their carefully arranged “map” that allows for the complexity of our bodies, problems can arise when chromosomes break and their pieces end up in the wrong place.
This event, called “translocation,” can cause genes to the expression of the wrong genes at the wrong times. Some types of cancer may be caused by translocations leading to errors in cell development and reproduction.
