Table of contents

1. Introduction to Genetics51m
2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
8. DNA Replication1h 10m
9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
10. Transcription1h 0m
11. Translation58m
12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
14. Genetic Control of Development44m
15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
16. Transposable Elements47m
17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- Genetic Cloning
  9m
- Methods for Analyzing DNA
  9m
19. Cancer Genetics29m
- Overview of Cancer
  21m
- Cancer Mutations
  7m
20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
21. Population Genetics50m
- Hardy Weinberg
  19m
- Allelic Frequency Changes
  31m
22. Evolutionary Genetics29m

13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes

Overview of Eukaryotic Gene Regulation

Genetics

13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes

Overview of Eukaryotic Gene Regulation

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0:55 minutes

Problem 16

Textbook Question

Competing endogenous RNAs act as molecular 'sponges.' What does this mean, and what do they compete with?

Verified step by step guidance

Understand that competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) are RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by binding to microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small non-coding RNAs involved in gene silencing.

Recognize that miRNAs typically bind to messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to inhibit their translation or promote their degradation, thus reducing protein production.

Learn that ceRNAs act as molecular 'sponges' by containing binding sites for specific miRNAs, effectively sequestering these miRNAs and preventing them from binding to their target mRNAs.

Identify that the competition is between ceRNAs and mRNAs for binding to the same pool of miRNAs; by 'soaking up' miRNAs, ceRNAs reduce the miRNA-mediated repression of mRNAs.

Conclude that this mechanism allows ceRNAs to indirectly regulate gene expression by modulating the availability of miRNAs to their target mRNAs.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Competing Endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs)

Competing endogenous RNAs are RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by binding and sequestering microRNAs (miRNAs). By acting as molecular 'sponges,' they reduce the availability of miRNAs to bind their usual target mRNAs, thus influencing the expression of those genes.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs)

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to complementary sequences on target mRNAs, leading to mRNA degradation or translational repression. Their activity is modulated by interactions with ceRNAs.

Molecular 'Sponge' Mechanism

The 'sponge' mechanism refers to ceRNAs competing with mRNAs for binding to shared miRNAs. By sequestering miRNAs, ceRNAs prevent them from repressing target mRNAs, thereby indirectly increasing the expression of those genes.

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