The regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic cells

Abstract

A new hypothesis for the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic cells is proposed. This hypothesis suggests that small segments of activator RNA select sites for gene transcription by base pairing with unique base sequences at the 3′ end of DNA gene sites and act as primer for RNA transcription of these genes. Unlike previous theories that have been proposed, this theory postulates a source for this activator RNA, as breakdown products of high molecular weight RNA and offers an explanation for the programmed schedule in the pattern of gene transcription during development as well as the generally stable phenotypic characteristics of cells.