A genetic switch
by Mark Ptashne, Klaus Dartmann · first published 1986
75% recommend25% neutral
"The first edition of A Genetic Switch has become a classic exposition of gene regulation, explaining in simple molecular terms how proteins bind DNA and turn genes on and off as the virus lambda grows in bacteria. To that original text, reprinted here with small modifications, the author has added a chapter describing recent advances that extend and deepen our understanding of lambda's "genetic switch." The study of lambda reveals the basic reactions that underlie transcriptional regulation in all organisms and shows how those reactions can be combined to produce a complex regulatory circuit.
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…enzymes that can promote or repress the expression of downstream genes. As just one (relative simple) example of how complicated genetic circuitry can be, I really enjoyed & recommend Mark Ptashne's A Genetic Switch: Phage Lambda for anyone who doesn't mind doing some slightly technical reading. Disclaimer: not a biologist, and would be interested in hearing from someone more knowledgeble than I, both about the…
on “The human genome is, at long last, complete” ↗This had great impact on me…and the quick read of Ptashne’s “a genetic switch” really pulled me into molecular biology. They helped me start to conceptualize how a group of inanimate objects (eg proteins, lipids, nucleic acid) can collectively be “alive”, including reproduce, and…
on “Ask HN: Which book can attract anyone towards your field of study?” ↗“A Genetic Switch” is one of the best books in my field. The entire book is about a single genetic switch in a bacterial virus, starting off high level before going down into the nitty gritty, all for this single switch.…
on “Ask HN: Which books do you consider real gems in your field of work/study?” ↗<speculation> 1) cells share a large portion of DNA sequences 2) cells change their behavior based on their environment (Mark Ptashne "A Genetic Switch: Phage Lambda Revisited") (Mark Ptashne and Alexander Gann "Genes & Signals) 3) The technology exists to edit the genome (Ali Movahedi "One Introduction of Genome Editing (CRISPR)) 4) modify yeast genome…
on “Beer from Yeast Alone?” ↗…through "directed evolution" they start to cooperate https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S200103702... There already is known machinery to do switching in cells: https://www.amazon.com/Genetic-Switch-Third-Lambda-Revisited... This form of epigenetics allows all kinds of interesting responses to external stimuli. In particular, it would allow "chemical questions" to be asked. It would be possible…
on “Crazy ideas for future synthetic biology and bioengineering” ↗