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In preprints – housekeeping the housekeeping genes

2026/07/01 by Max Greenberg · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications #Biotin and Related Studies #bioluminescence and chemiluminescence research

paper · doi:10.1242/dev.205879

Abstract

The term 'housekeeping gene' evokes a sense of banality. These are the boring genes that hum in the background, impervious to cell state or stress. For a developmental biologist captivated by the impact of differentiation or environmental cues on gene expression, housekeeping genes find their use as loading controls. It is easy to lose sight of the fact that housekeeping genes are perhaps the most important genes - they code for the essential cellular factors: cytoskeleton components, basal metabolic enzymes, ribosomal proteins, etc. Therefore, understanding the basis of their extremely robust transcriptional regulation has critical implications for development and life in general.

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