The scientific process. The article is presented in its original form and also annotated and explained, to help students understand the reasoning and methods scientists use to make discoveries.
Many questions arise when new genes are found.
Different types of scientists study gene function from different perspectives. Geneticists create and analyze mutant varieties of the gene, then compare organisms carrying mutated genes with normal organisms. They reason that observing the effects of the loss of gene function will give them clues about the normal function of a gene. Biochemists learn about gene function by isolating the DNA that comprises a gene, then doing experiments that change the function of its protein product. Each additional piece of information moves scientists closer to understanding the gene or the biological process it affects.