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

10. Transcription

RNA Modification and Processing

Genetics

10. Transcription

RNA Modification and Processing

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2:35 minutes

Problem 21

Textbook Question

Messenger RNA molecules are very difficult to isolate in bacteria because they are rather quickly degraded in the cell. Can you suggest a reason why this occurs? Eukaryotic mRNAs are more stable and exist longer in the cell than do bacterial mRNAs. Is this an advantage or a disadvantage for a pancreatic cell making large quantities of insulin?

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span>Consider the role of mRNA in protein synthesis: mRNA serves as a temporary copy of genetic information that is translated into proteins. In bacteria, rapid mRNA degradation allows for quick adaptation to environmental changes by altering protein synthesis rapidly.

span>Think about the differences in cellular environments: Bacterial cells often face rapidly changing environments, so the ability to quickly degrade mRNA and stop protein production is advantageous for conserving resources and responding to new conditions.

span>Compare this with eukaryotic cells: Eukaryotic cells, like those in the pancreas, have more stable environments and can afford to have more stable mRNA. This stability allows for sustained protein production, which is beneficial for cells that need to produce large quantities of a specific protein, such as insulin.

span>Consider the implications for insulin production: For a pancreatic cell, having stable mRNA is advantageous because it allows for continuous and efficient production of insulin without the need to constantly transcribe new mRNA molecules.

span>Reflect on the evolutionary advantages: The differences in mRNA stability between bacteria and eukaryotes reflect their evolutionary adaptations to their respective environments and needs for protein production.

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Key Concepts

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

mRNA Stability

Messenger RNA (mRNA) stability refers to the lifespan of mRNA molecules within a cell. In bacteria, mRNA is often rapidly degraded by ribonucleases, which allows for quick responses to environmental changes but limits the time available for translation. In contrast, eukaryotic mRNAs have longer half-lives due to protective structures like the 5' cap and poly-A tail, which enhance their stability and translation efficiency.

Transcription and Translation in Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes

In prokaryotes, transcription and translation occur simultaneously in the cytoplasm, leading to rapid protein synthesis but also rapid degradation of mRNA. Eukaryotes, however, separate these processes; transcription occurs in the nucleus, and mRNA is processed before being transported to the cytoplasm for translation. This separation allows eukaryotic cells to regulate gene expression more effectively and produce proteins over a longer time frame.

Insulin Production in Pancreatic Cells

Pancreatic cells, specifically beta cells, produce insulin in response to glucose levels. The stability of mRNA is crucial for these cells, as they need to synthesize large amounts of insulin efficiently. Longer-lived eukaryotic mRNAs allow for sustained production of insulin, which is advantageous for maintaining glucose homeostasis, especially in response to fluctuating blood sugar levels.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

A portion of a human gene is isolated from the genome and sequenced. The corresponding segment of mRNA is isolated from the cytoplasm of human cells, and it is also sequenced. The nucleic acid strings shown here are from genomic coding strand DNA and the corresponding mRNA.

There is one intron in the DNA sequence shown. Locate the intron and underline the splice site sequences.

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Textbook Question

Recent observations indicate that alternative splicing is a common way for eukaryotes to expand their repertoire of gene functions. Studies indicate that approximately 50 percent of human genes exhibit alternative splicing and approximately 15 percent of disease-causing mutations involve aberrant alternative splicing. Different tissues show remarkably different frequencies of alternative splicing, with the brain accounting for approximately 18 percent of such events [Xu et al. (2002). Nucl. Acids Res. 30:3754–3766].

Why might some tissues engage in more alternative splicing than others?

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Textbook Question

Isoginkgetin is a cell-permeable chemical isolated from the Ginkgo biloba tree that binds to and inhibits snRNPs.

Would this be most problematic for E. coli cells, yeast cells, or human cells? Why?

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Textbook Question

Isoginkgetin is a cell-permeable chemical isolated from the Ginkgo biloba tree that binds to and inhibits snRNPs.

What types of problems would you anticipate in cells treated with isoginkgetin?

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