Phenomena and Processes

Gene Amplification

A selective increase in the number of copies of a gene coding for a specific protein without a proportional increase in other genes. It occurs naturally via the excision of a copy of the repeating sequence from the chromosome and its extrachromosomal replication in a plasmid, or via the production of an RNA transcript of the entire repeating sequence of ribosomal RNA followed by the reverse transcription of the molecule to produce an additional copy of the original DNA sequence. Laboratory techniques have been introduced for inducing disproportional replication by unequal crossing over, uptake of DNA from lysed cells, or generation of extrachromosomal sequences from rolling circle replication.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A selective increase in the number of copies of a gene coding for a specific protein without a proportional increase in other genes. It occurs naturally via the excision of a copy of the repeating sequence from the chromosome and its extrachromosomal replication in a plasmid, or via the production of an RNA transcript of the entire repeating sequence of ribosomal RNA followed by the reverse transcription of the molecule to produce an additional copy of the original DNA sequence. Laboratory techniques have been introduced for inducing disproportional replication by unequal crossing over, uptake of DNA from lysed cells, or generation of extrachromosomal sequences from rolling circle replication.

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See Also

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Synonyms

1 entry terms
  • Amplification, Gene

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

6 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings drug effects, ethics, genetics, immunology, physiology, radiation effects.

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Indexing Annotation

for physiol process only; for technique use NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION TECHNIQUES or specifics

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History Note

80

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Genes (1966-1967)
  • Genes, Structural (1968-1979)
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization (1971-1979)
  • Plasmids (1975-1979)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. G05.308w.250w
  2. G05.365w.590w.310w
  3. G05.558w.315w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QU 475

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Gene Amplification. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D005784. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D005784
  2. Gene Amplification. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_amplification
  3. Gene Amplification. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5531544