What is the experimental basis for concluding that puffs in polytene chromosomes and loops in lampbrush chromosomes are areas of intense transcription of RNA?
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
- 19. Cancer Genetics29m
- 20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
- 21. Population Genetics50m
- 22. Evolutionary Genetics29m
10. Transcription
Transcription in Eukaryotes
Problem 5c
Textbook Question
The following is a portion of an mRNA sequence:
3'-AUCGUCAUGCAGA-5'
Identify the direction in which the promoter region for this gene will be located.

1
Understand that the mRNA sequence provided is written in the 3' to 5' direction, which is unusual because mRNA is typically written in the 5' to 3' direction. This means we need to reverse the sequence to analyze it properly.
Reverse the sequence to obtain the standard 5' to 3' orientation: 5'-AGACGUACUGCUA-3'. This is the correct orientation for interpreting the mRNA sequence.
Recall that the promoter region is located upstream of the transcription start site. In the context of the mRNA sequence, 'upstream' refers to the direction opposite to the synthesis of the mRNA strand.
Determine the direction of transcription. Since mRNA is synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction, the promoter region must be located upstream, which corresponds to the 5' end of the template DNA strand (or the 3' end of the mRNA sequence).
Conclude that the promoter region for this gene will be located in the direction corresponding to the 3' end of the provided mRNA sequence, as this is upstream relative to the transcription process.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
mRNA Directionality
mRNA is synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction, meaning that the 5' end of the mRNA corresponds to the start of the coding sequence. The sequence provided is in the 3' to 5' orientation, indicating that the actual coding sequence runs from the 5' end of the mRNA to the 3' end.
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Directionality
Promoter Region
The promoter region is a specific DNA sequence located upstream of a gene that initiates transcription. It is typically found at the 5' end of the coding sequence and is recognized by RNA polymerase and transcription factors, which bind to it to start the process of mRNA synthesis.
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Regions of X Chromosomes
Transcription Initiation
Transcription initiation is the first step in gene expression, where RNA polymerase binds to the promoter region and unwinds the DNA. This process determines the direction of transcription, which will always proceed from the promoter towards the 3' end of the template strand, thus establishing the orientation of the mRNA produced.
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Eukaryotic Transcription
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