Gene Control

The control of gene expression is essential for the correct development and maintenance of an organism. An understanding of the mechanisms by which genes can be controlled is therefore vital for the study of disease and the development of new treatments. Gene Control offers the student an articulate, current description of how gene expression is controlled in eukaryotes, compressing the extensive primary literature into an easily accessible format.Gene Control is a comprehensively restructured and expanded edition of the popular Gene Regulation books. The first part of the book deals with the fundamental processes of gene control at the levels of chromatin structure, transcription, and post-transcriptional processes. Three pairs of chapters deal with each of these aspects, first describing the basic process itself, followed by the manner in which it is involved in controlling gene expression.The second part of the book deals with the role of gene control in specific biological processes. There is a chapter on the importance of gene control for normal development of the embryo and proper functioning of the adult organism. Another chapter discusses the key roles played by gene-regulatory processes in the specification of differentiated cell types such as muscle cells and neurones. The final chapters discuss the consequences of errors in gene control; the relationship between gene misregulation and inherited and communicable human diseases, especially cancer; and potential therapies designed specifically to target particular levels of gene control.