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February 28

How do cells direct production of specific proteins?

I understand how genes are read and messenger RNA produced, travels to ribosomes and voila, a protein. But how does the other side work? If a cell "knows" it needs a particular protein how does it start the process. How does a particular gene on a particular chromosome get told to start the transcription process? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 60.240.95.248 (talk) 04:00, 28 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]

There is no single mechanism and scientists are still making new discoveries, so the question does not have a simple answer. But you can get an idea by reading Regulation of gene expression and following links to various subtopics. --Lambiam 08:44, 28 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]