Topic summary
Nuclear genes
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Nuclear gene.
Function and importance
Nuclear genes play a central role in nearly all aspects of eukaryotic biology, encoding the majority of proteins and regulatory RNAs necessary for cellular function. Unlike organellar genes (e.g., mitochondrial or chloroplast DNA), which are limited to a small number of metabolic and energy-related processes, nuclear genes govern development, growth, reproduction, and homeostasis. They are transcribed in the nucleus and often translated in the cytoplasm, with their products directed to various organelles, including mitochondria and chloroplasts, through specialized signaling sequences.