Elysia chlorotica is a sea slug that acquires chloroplasts by consuming an algal food source, Vaucheria litorea. The ingested chloroplasts are sequestered in the sea slug's digestive epithelium, where they actively photosynthesize for months after ingestion. In the algae, the algal nuclear genome encodes more than 90% but not all of the proteins required for chloroplast metabolism. Thus it is suspected that the sea slug actively maintains ingested chloroplasts, supplying them with photosynthetic proteins encoded in the sea slug genome. How would you determine whether the sea slug has acquired photosynthetic genes by horizontal gene transfer from its algal food source? Discuss the steps required for heritable endosymbiosis to eventuate, and their plausibility.
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 29f
Textbook Question
The DNA sequence below gives the first 12 base pairs of the transcribed region of a gene, and the template and nontemplate strands of DNA are identified. The transcription start is the thymine nucleotide at the end of the sequence given. Use the diagram to answer the list of questions. Make a copy of the diagram before you begin answering the questions, or have one group member diagram the answers for bacteria and another group member diagram the answers for eukaryotes.
Nontemplate strand ___________ TTGCTACGGTCA___________
Template strand ___________ AACGATGCCAGT___________
Assuming the sequence shown is part of a eukaryotic gene, what consensus sequence(s) would you expect to identify within about 100 base pairs of the start of transcription?

1
Identify the transcription start site, which is the thymine nucleotide at the end of the sequence provided. This is the +1 position, and transcription begins here.
Understand that in eukaryotic genes, consensus sequences are regulatory elements found near the transcription start site. These sequences help recruit transcription machinery. The most common consensus sequences are the TATA box (around -25 to -30 base pairs upstream) and the CAAT box (around -75 base pairs upstream).
Examine the nontemplate strand sequence provided (TTGCTACGGTCA) and consider the upstream region (approximately 100 base pairs before the transcription start site). Look for sequences that resemble the TATA box (TATAAA) or the CAAT box (GGCCAATCT).
If no exact matches for the TATA box or CAAT box are found, consider that variations in these sequences are common. Look for sequences that are similar to the consensus sequences, as they may still function as regulatory elements.
Conclude that the presence of these consensus sequences (or their variants) within 100 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site is expected in eukaryotic genes, as they play a critical role in initiating transcription by recruiting RNA polymerase and other transcription factors.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Transcription in Eukaryotes
Transcription in eukaryotes involves the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template, occurring in the nucleus. It begins at a specific site called the promoter, which is recognized by RNA polymerase and associated transcription factors. The process includes several steps: initiation, elongation, and termination, with the pre-mRNA undergoing further processing, such as capping and splicing, before becoming mature mRNA.
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Consensus Sequences
Consensus sequences are short, recurring patterns in DNA that are crucial for the binding of transcription factors and RNA polymerase. These sequences are typically found in promoter regions and can include elements like the TATA box and other regulatory motifs. Identifying these sequences helps predict where transcription will initiate and is essential for understanding gene regulation.
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Sequencing Overview
Template and Nontemplate Strands
In DNA, the template strand is the strand that RNA polymerase reads to synthesize RNA, while the nontemplate strand, also known as the coding strand, has the same sequence as the RNA (except for thymine being replaced by uracil). Understanding the roles of these strands is vital for interpreting the direction of transcription and the resulting RNA sequence, which is essential for answering questions about gene expression.
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