REGULATION OF GENE EXPRESSION

The products of various genes are controlled by different mechanisms in prokaryotes and eukaryotes specifically based on the urgency or need for the products. Such mechanisms as a group are termed as gene regulation processes.

The gene regulation is necessary for both the prokaryotes and eukaryotes alike for different reasons. The prokaryotes are free living unicellular organisms which grow and divide rapidly in order to reproduce and also in addition to this, they have to adapt to the environmental conditions for survival. Besides these are achieved by the genes that produce certain products to carry out those functions. However it is equally important to regulate genes that are responsible for the production of specific products for various functions so as to maintain its energy levels economically and respond to the need efficiently. While eukaryotes have different reasons for regulation of their genes, one of the important reasons is cell specialization and differentiation during the development.