Genetics glossary
What is downstream?
downstream — A convention used to describe features of a DNA sequence, gene or mRNA related to the position and direction (5' to 3') of transcription by RNA polymerase or translation by the ribosome. Downstream (or 3' to) is in the direction of transcription (or translation) whereas upstream (5' to) is in the direction from which the polymerase (or ribosome) has come. Conventionally DNA sequences, gene maps…
A convention used to describe features of a DNA sequence, gene or mRNA related to the position and direction (5' to 3') of transcription by RNA polymerase or translation by the ribosome. Downstream (or 3' to) is in the direction of transcription (or translation) whereas upstream (5' to) is in the direction from which the polymerase (or ribosome) has come. Conventionally DNA sequences, gene maps and RNA sequences are drawn with transcription (or translation) from left to right and so downstream is towards the right.