Meet the editors

Yuan-Chuan Chen obtained a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, USA, in 2015. His research interests include pharmacy/pharmacology, biochemistry, microbiology/virology, cell/molecule biology, biotechnology/nanotechnology, cell/gene therapy and policy/regulation. His studies focus on the discovery, application, perspectives and challenges of biopharmaceuticals and CRISPR/Cas9 technologies. Addi-

tionally, he is interested in basic research, multiple applications and therapeutics about gene expression and phenotypic traits.

Shiu-Jau Chen obtained an MD and PhD in Anatomy and Cell Biology at the National Taiwan University in 1994 and 2013, respectively. His specialties are neurosurgery and brain disease treatment. His studies focus on the prevention and treatment of drug addiction and neurodegenerative diseases. He is also interested in the treatment of diseases associated with gene expression and phenotypic traits.

Contents

**Section 1**

**Section 2**

**Section 3**

Factors

*by Morgan Salmon*

*by Michihiko Ito*

*Gallus gallus* domesticus

*by Yuan-Chuan Chen*

**Preface III**

Background **1**

**Chapter 1 3**

Sex Determination **11**

**Chapter 2 13**

**Chapter 3 21**

**Chapter 4 39**

Gene Expression and Regulation **53**

**Chapter 5 55**

**Chapter 6 83**

**Chapter 7 121**

Introductory Chapter: Gene Expression and Phenotypic Traits

Comparison of Sex Determination in Vertebrates (Nonmammals)

Specific Features of Sex Determination in Birds on the Example of

*by Aleksandr Fedorovich Smirnov and Antonina Vladimirovna Trukhina*

Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulation of Krüppel-Like Transcription

Circular RNAs and Its Biological Functions in Health and Disease

Evaluation of the Synergistic Effect of Amikacin with Cefotaxime against *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* and Its Biofilm Genes Expression

*by Atiye Seda Yar Saglam, Ebru Alp and Hacer Ilke Onen*

*by Azza S. El-Demerdash and Neveen R. Bakry*

Instability of Sex-Determining Systems in Frogs

*by Aleksandr F. Smirnov and Antonina V. Trukhina*

## Contents



Preface

Gene expression is a process by which genetic information is used in the synthesis of functional products including proteins and functional RNAs, such as transfer RNA (tRNA), small nuclear RNA (sn RNA), micro RNA (miRNA), small/short interfering RNA (siRNA), among others. This process is utilized by eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and viruses to generate macromolecules for constituting cellular components and exhibiting living functions. Several steps in the gene expression process could be regulated, such as transcription, post-transcriptional modification, translation, and post-translational modification. Regulation of gene expression is to modulate the production amount and timing of the functional products. Control of gene expression is critical to allow cells to produce their functional products when cells need them; in turn, this gives cells the flexibility to adapt to a variable environment, and respond to external signals, stimuli, and damages. Cellular structures and functions can also be controlled by gene expression regulation. Consequently, the regulation is crucial for cells to proliferate, differentiate, transport, metabolize, and repair. It is advantageous to the versatility, development, and adaptability of living organisms. A phenotypic trait, the expression of genes in an observable way, is an obvious and measurable trait. For example, hair color is a phenotypic trait and genotype composed of genes that determine hair color, but the hair color observed is the phenotype. The phenotype is variable depending on the genetic make-up of the organism, and influenced by the surroundings to which the organism is subjected across its morphogenesis, including various epigenetic processes. In this book, these findings and their implications are broadly discussed, and future genomic and phenotypic studies, analyses, and applications are highlighted. In this book, we explore the significance, mechanism, function, characteristic, determination and

We are grateful for the participation of all authors and IntechOpen's enthusiasm in

**Yuan-Chuan Chen, PhD**

**Shiu-Jau Chen, MD, PhD** Department of Neurosurgery, Mackay Memorial Hospital,

CA, USA

Taipei, Taiwan

Program in Comparative Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley,

application of gene expression and phenotypic traits.

helping us to complete and publish this book.
