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Multiple Choice
Why doesn't a skin cell produce crystallin protein, which is abundant in lens cells of the eye?
A
Skin cells do not have ribosomes to synthesize crystallin protein.
B
The crystallin gene is not expressed in skin cells due to differences in gene regulation.
C
Skin cells lack the DNA sequence for the crystallin gene.
D
Crystallin protein is toxic to skin cells, so it is actively degraded.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the problem: The question is asking why skin cells do not produce crystallin protein, which is abundant in lens cells of the eye. The options provided suggest different reasons, and we need to evaluate them based on biological principles.
Step 1: Recall the concept of gene expression. All cells in an organism contain the same DNA, but different cell types express different sets of genes. This is due to gene regulation, which determines which genes are turned on or off in a specific cell type.
Step 2: Evaluate the first option: 'Skin cells do not have ribosomes to synthesize crystallin protein.' This is incorrect because all cells, including skin cells, have ribosomes to synthesize proteins. Ribosomes are essential for protein synthesis in all cell types.
Step 3: Evaluate the second option: 'The crystallin gene is not expressed in skin cells due to differences in gene regulation.' This is correct because gene regulation ensures that only the genes necessary for a specific cell type's function are expressed. In skin cells, the crystallin gene is not activated, so the protein is not produced.
Step 4: Evaluate the remaining options: 'Skin cells lack the DNA sequence for the crystallin gene' is incorrect because all cells in the body have the same DNA. 'Crystallin protein is toxic to skin cells, so it is actively degraded' is also incorrect because there is no evidence that crystallin protein is toxic to skin cells. The correct answer is based on gene regulation.