Question: How is it kept under control in worms?

Kerstin Zechner answered on 18 Mar 2010:

So far, to our understanding, there are two ways the DNA to RNA copying process is stopped in worms (it’s the same in humans). When a signal on the gene is recognised by the protein responsible for the copying, other proteins bound to this main molecule will be released from it and cause it stop. The other way it can happen is again, if this signal at the end of the gene is recognised by the copying protein. Other enzymes will then cut the RNA around this signal, so you’ll end up with an RNA molecule complementary to the DNA sequence of gene. But the copying protein will still carry copying further down of the gene. An enzyme known as a nuclease will start munching up the new RNA that is being copied and eventually catch up to the copying protein and knock it off the DNA sequence. That’s the second way the copying of RNA from DNA stops. Let me know if you’re confused 🙂 We still have a lot to understand about how it works 🙂