What does the gene for Rb do?
The Rb gene is found on chromosome 13. Like nearly all our genes we have two copies of it. It is quite a large gene with 27 different sections. The information it provides allows our bodies to make a substance called a protein, which is then able to carry out a specific function in our bodies and within the cell itself. The protein produced by the “retinoblastoma” gene plays an important role in ensuring healthy cell division as we grow and develop. All cells have a life cycle. An important part of that is the period during which the cell replicates and divides. During this process, all the genes within a cell must also get copied so the new cell has all the information it needs to function properly. Certain proteins, such as the one produced by the retinoblastoma gene, perform checks at stages throughout the copying and dividing process to ensure that the cells are dividing correctly and the new cells are healthy, without changes in the genetic material. If it detects changes, the pro
