University of Texas at Dallas researchers have taken an important step toward explaining why genetically identical cells can produce varying amounts of the same protein associated with the same gene. “The quest to understand cellular noise is driven primarily by our interest in applying engineering to biology. That fluctuation in gene expression between identical cells is called cellular noise. Understanding differences in how genetically identical cells behave can help scientists develop more effective, targeted therapies, Bleris said. “Understanding the sources of noise opens the path for asking new questions: What is the biological function of noise?