Final answer:
A person studying the rate of transcription of a particular gene is involved in transcriptomics, which is a branch of biology that analyzes the collection of all mRNA molecules to understand gene expression patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
A person studying the rate of transcription of a particular gene is working in the field of transcriptomics. This branch of science focuses on the entire collection of mRNA molecules produced by cells. Researchers in transcriptomics monitor differences in gene expression patterns between cells, particularly at the mRNA level. This can include analyzing how cells react to infectious disease or how gene expression of virulence factors in microorganisms operates.
Transcription itself is the process by which a gene's DNA sequence is copied to produce an mRNA molecule, which is used to synthesize proteins during translation. This overall process is known as gene expression. Advances in genomics and transcriptomics have allowed scientists to study networks of regulated genes within a cell, opening up potential medical advancements and enriching our understanding of cellular processes.