Understanding Gene Function

Understanding patterns of gene expression can lead to an understanding of a gene’s function.

How do you go about detecting gene expression?

It might surprise you to learn that the frontline research techniques used to generate these images are based on fundamental science covered in introductory textbooks. For example:

  • Antibodies and immunology
  • DNA base pairing and hybridization
  • Enzyme biochemistry

Let’s explore some of these methods.

Markers on a chick embryo, butterfly larva wing, stickleback fish embryo, and fruit fly wings.
Examples of gene expression