Visualizing Gene Expression in Real-Time

Extract

Gene expression has been visualized for a few decades, but in static forms such as blots and gene chips. Susan Janicki, Toshiro Tsukamoto, Sim one Salghetti, William Tansey, Ravi Sachidanandam, Kannanganattu Prasanth, Thomas Ried, Yaron Shav-Tal, Edouard Bertrand, Robert Singer, and David Spector have recently designed a cell line in which gene expression can be observed with stunningly accurate spatial and temporal resolution. Gene expression is a cascade of events beginning with transcription of RNA from the DNA template and ending with translation into a protein sequence. Janicki et al. were able to visualize the entire process at the levels of DNA, RNA, and proteins in living cells!