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Science 23 September 2005:
Vol. 309. no. 5743, pp. 2010 - 2013
DOI: 10.1126/science.1105891
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Review

Noise in Gene Expression: Origins, Consequences, and Control

Jonathan M. Raser1,2 and Erin K. O'Shea2*{dagger}

Genetically identical cells and organisms exhibit remarkable diversity even when they have identical histories of environmental exposure. Noise, or variation, in the process of gene expression may contribute to this phenotypic variability. Recent studies suggest that this noise has multiple sources, including the stochastic or inherently random nature of the biochemical reactions of gene expression. In this review, we summarize noise terminology and comment on recent investigations into the sources, consequences, and control of noise in gene expression.

1 Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California–San Francisco, 600 16th Street, GH-S472D, San Francisco, CA 94143–2240, USA.
2 Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California–San Francisco, 600 16th Street, GH-S472D, San Francisco, CA 94143–2240, USA.

* Present address: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, 7 Divinity Avenue, Bauer 307, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.

{dagger} To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: erin_oshea{at}harvard.edu

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