The Black Lab, founded in 2004, is a medical research laboratory located at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. The laboratory maintains a focus on improving patient response to cancer treatment by analyzing gene expression and determining its effect on treatment response.
Gene expression is a biological process at the cellular level that involves the conversion of DNA information into molecules such as proteins. This process allows cells to adjust to their surroundings by controlling when and how many proteins are produced. Gene expression includes two stages: transcription and translation. During transcription, DNA information is copied to produce messenger RNA, which carries the information to protein-producing ribosomes in the cell. Carrier molecules read this information during the translation stage, and ribosomes use it to form a new protein.