What is the term for a gene and its corresponding protein?

In summary, the conversation discusses the possibility of a common term for a gene and the protein it codes for. While older gene names may not always clearly distinguish between the gene and protein, newer naming conventions have been established to make the distinction more clear. One such term is "proteome," which refers to the entire set of proteins expressed by a genome. This term is becoming more widely used, particularly in the context of research on human biology and medical purposes.
  • #1
icakeov
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Hello again!
Is there a common word/term for a gene and the protein that it codes for?

I know there is signal transduction, but that would be for a whole set of genes and proteins doing a stream of functions. But would there be a name for the specific gene/protein "bundle"?
 
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  • #2
I can't recall one to mind. But can you give a sentence in which you would need it?
 
  • #3
I think this question comes more from the angle of genes always getting the "credit" for making one's eyes a specific color. It would be great to have a nomenclature that includes the protein that the gene comes with. So instead of saying, this gene codes for blue eyes, one would say this "gene/protein combo" makes blue eyes.
It is really about inserting it into the vocabulary and in a way, being fair toward proteins. ;)
 
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  • #4
Some modern gene terminologies (or nomenclatures) unite the gene and protein names through the conventions used in naming them, while keeping the names distinct in some way to make clear the distinction between protein and gene.

Older names don't always do this, but some are being renamed with newer names.
Genes discovered by finding a mutation in them are often named after the mutant phenotype not the actual function of the gene. These are historic artifacts which are frequently revised.

This conventions were often set-up by the researchers of a particular species, making species specific naming systems.
At least some of the rules have now been changed to make the names used (in zebrafish for example) more similar to the names for humans when their orthology (naming based on homology (derived from a common precursor)) is considered sound.

A lot of zebrafish research is funded by the NIH with the idea it will illuminate human biology (for medical purposes), so the renaming supports this endeavor.

In conversation, it would certainly be understandable to most people to talk about protein X and gene X which encodes protein X.
 
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  • #5

1. What is a gene?

A gene is a unit of heredity that is responsible for the characteristics and traits of an organism. It is a segment of DNA that contains the instructions for making a specific protein.

2. How does a gene code for a protein?

A gene codes for a protein through a process called protein synthesis. This involves the gene being transcribed into a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule, which is then translated by ribosomes into a specific sequence of amino acids to form a protein.

3. What is the relationship between a gene and its protein?

A gene and its protein have a direct and specific relationship. Each gene is responsible for producing a specific protein, and the sequence of nucleotides in the gene determines the sequence of amino acids in the protein.

4. Can a single gene code for multiple proteins?

Yes, a single gene can code for multiple proteins through a process called alternative splicing. During this process, different combinations of exons (coding regions) are selected from a gene, resulting in different variations of the same protein.

5. How do mutations in genes affect proteins?

Mutations in genes can affect proteins in different ways. They can alter the amino acid sequence, resulting in a protein with a different structure and function. Mutations can also affect the regulation of gene expression, leading to either an increase or decrease in protein production.

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