Biology

Scientists crack the code of how genes turn on and off

How the science connects

Gene expressionGene regulation

AI Insight

Researchers at EMBL Heidelberg's Krebs Group have developed a new experimental genetic tool designed to investigate how cells regulate gene expression. While the human genome contains over 20,000 genes, only a subset are active at any given time in specific cells, and this tool aims to elucidate the mechanisms controlling which genes are activated and when. The approach provides a method for understanding the logic underlying selective gene regulation in cellular systems.


Understanding gene regulation is fundamental to comprehending cellular function, development, and disease processes. This tool could potentially advance research in areas such as developmental biology, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic interventions that target gene expression.


The human genome contains more than 20,000 genes. However, at any given time and in a given cell, only a fraction are active. Researchers from EMBL Heidelberg’s Krebs Group have developed an innovative experimental approach to understand how cells determine which genes to turn on and when.

Source: A new genetic tool helps researchers uncover the logic of gene regulation