The feedback between mRNA and regulatory-protein production may result in bistability of gene transcription. If the mRNA and/or protein number are low, one can observe transcriptional 'bursts' in this case provided that the intracellular conditions are steady. Our Monte Carlo simulations show that for biologically reasonable kinetic parameters this effect may easily disappear if the transcription occurs during the cellular growth and division. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.