AP Biology Flashcards: Gene Expression and Cell Specialization
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
What is the primary consequence of differential gene expression for a cell?
Differential gene expression is what allows cells to become specialized, influencing their specific products and functions within an organism.
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What is the primary consequence of differential gene expression for a cell?
Differential gene expression is what allows cells to become specialized, influencing their specific products and functions within an organism.
How do negative regulatory molecules inhibit gene expression?
Negative regulatory molecules inhibit gene expression by binding to specific DNA sequences, which physically blocks the process of transcription.
What is differential gene expression?
Differential gene expression is the process, resulting from gene regulation, where different sets of genes are expressed in different cells.
Explain the connection between the regulation of gene expression and phenotypic differences in cells.
The regulation of gene expression leads to differential expression of genes, causing cells to develop unique products and functions, which results in phenotypic differences between them.
What is the general term for the process that controls which genes are expressed in a cell?
The process that controls which genes are expressed is called gene regulation.
Where must transcription factors and RNA polymerase bind to start transcription?
To initiate transcription, transcription factors and RNA polymerase must bind to specific DNA sequences known as promoter or enhancer regions.
How does the binding of transcription factors to promoter regions affect an organism's phenotype?
The binding of transcription factors regulates gene expression, which in turn determines the proteins produced and ultimately influences the organism's observable traits (phenotype).
What molecules, besides transcription factors, can play a role in regulating gene expression?
Certain small RNA molecules are also involved in the regulation of gene expression.
A muscle cell and a nerve cell in the same person have the same DNA. Why do they have different functions?
They have different functions due to differential gene expression, where gene regulation causes different sets of genes to be activated in each cell, leading to specialized cell products.
What is the role of transcription factors in initiating gene expression?
Transcription factors are proteins that bind to promoter or enhancer DNA sequences, along with RNA polymerase, to initiate the process of transcription.
What is the relationship between gene regulation, cell products, and cell functions?
Gene regulation leads to differential gene expression, which determines the specific products a cell makes and, consequently, its specialized function.