What is the purpose of gene expression in cells?

Gene expression plays a crucial role in cellular function and development by converting genetic information into functional products, primarily proteins. This process involves two main stages: transcription and translation. During transcription, the DNA sequence of a gene is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). In the subsequent translation phase, the mRNA is used as a template to assemble amino acids into a polypeptide chain, ultimately folding into a functional protein.

Proteins are essential for numerous cellular processes, including enzymatic reactions, structural support, signaling pathways, and immune responses. The expression of specific genes allows a cell to adapt to its environment, undertake specialized functions, and ultimately contribute to the organism's overall development and homeostasis.

In contrast, the other choices highlight processes that are distinct from gene expression. DNA replication is focused on copying the genetic material rather than expressing it, detoxification concerns the removal of toxins rather than creating functional products, and initiating cell division pertains to the cell cycle rather than the expression of genes into proteins. Therefore, the primary purpose of gene expression is accurately captured by converting genetic information into functional products like proteins.