The Xist gene is crucial for X chromosome inactivation in female mammals, ensuring dosage compensation by silencing one of the two X chromosomes. It produces a long non-coding RNA that coats the X chromosome from which it is transcribed, triggering a cascade of chromatin modifications that lead to transcriptional silencing.

Xist Gene

Xist gene

X chromosome inactivation is a vital process in female mammals where one of the two X chromosomes is randomly silenced to ensure dosage compensation between males and females. This process involves the expression of the XIST gene, which coats the inactive X chromosome, leading to its transcriptional silencing and heterochromatin formation.

X chromosome inactivation

female mammals

Dosage compensation is a genetic mechanism that balances the expression of sex-linked genes to ensure that individuals with different sex chromosome compositions have similar levels of gene products. It is crucial for organisms like mammals, where females have two X chromosomes and males have one, to prevent an imbalance in gene expression that could lead to developmental issues.

dosage compensation

silencing one of the two X chromosomes

long non-coding RNA

coats the X chromosome

Transcription is the biological process where the DNA sequence of a gene is copied into RNA, which serves as a template for protein synthesis. This crucial step in gene expression is regulated by various factors ensuring that the right genes are expressed at the right time and in the right amount.

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