How do cells know when to turn some genes on or off? Or which genes to activate when their environments change?

In today's episode, we'll do a deep dive into the three levels of gene regulation, exploring how prokaryotes and eukaryotes modulate their DNA, RNA, and proteins in real time to meet real needs.

Part 1: DNA Regulation

- Chromatin and Histones

- Histone Acetylation and Deacetylation

- Histone Phosphorylation and Dephosphorylation

- Histone Methylation and Demethylation

- Ubiquitination and SUMOylation

- DNA Methylation

- Genomic Imprinting

- X Chromosome Inactivation

- Gene Dosage (Copy Number Variations and Aneuploidy)

Part 2: Prokaryotic RNA Regulation

- Inducible and Repressible Operons

- The Lac Operon

- The Trp Operon

Part 3: Eukaryotic RNA Regulation

- Transcription Factors and Enhancers

- RNA Translocation

- mRNA Surveillance

- RNA Interference, siRNAs, and miRNAs

Part 4: Protein Regulation

- Post-Translational Modifications

Correction: At 24:27, Michael incorrectly described the meaning of the term "CpG islands." "CpG" does stand for "cytosine-phosphodiester-guanine" or "cytosine-phosphate-guanine," but this refers to the bonds between cytosines and guanines in the backbone of these regions along the same strand, not the complementary base-pairing of cytosine and guanine on opposite strands. Recall that complementary base-pairing occurs via hydrogen bonds, not phosphodiester ones. CpG islands are notable for containing many cytosines and guanines in close proximity.

Correction: At 54:00, Michael misspoke. He said "decade" but should have said "century."