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

Transcription in Eukaryotes

Genetics

10. Transcription

Transcription in Eukaryotes

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Problem 15a

Textbook Question

The eukaryotic gene Gen-100 contains four introns labeled A to D. Imagine that Gen-100 has been isolated and its DNA has been denatured and mixed with polyadenylated mRNA from the gene.
Illustrate the R-loop structure that would be seen with electron microscopy.

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Understand the concept of R-loops: R-loops are structures formed when a single-stranded RNA hybridizes with its complementary DNA strand, displacing the other DNA strand. This occurs during transcription when mRNA pairs with the template strand of the gene.

Identify the structure of the Gen-100 gene: The gene contains four introns (A, B, C, and D) and exons in between. Introns are non-coding regions that are spliced out of the mRNA, while exons are coding regions that remain in the mature mRNA.

Visualize the hybridization process: When the denatured DNA of Gen-100 is mixed with the polyadenylated mRNA, the mRNA will hybridize with the complementary DNA strand (the template strand). The exons in the mRNA will align with their corresponding regions in the DNA, while the introns will form loops because they are absent in the mRNA.

Illustrate the R-loop structure: The R-loop will consist of double-stranded regions where the mRNA is hybridized to the template DNA strand, and single-stranded loops corresponding to the introns (A, B, C, and D) that are not present in the mRNA. These loops will be visible under electron microscopy as protrusions.

Label the R-loop diagram: Clearly label the exons (aligned regions), the intron loops (A, B, C, and D), and the polyadenylated tail of the mRNA. This will help in understanding the relationship between the gene's DNA and its processed mRNA.

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Key Concepts

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

R-loop Structure

An R-loop is a three-stranded nucleic acid structure formed when RNA hybridizes with a complementary DNA strand, displacing the non-template DNA strand. In the context of eukaryotic genes, R-loops can occur when mRNA binds to the DNA template, creating a loop that includes the coding sequence and excludes introns. This structure is significant for understanding gene expression and the processing of pre-mRNA.

Introns and Exons

Introns are non-coding sequences within a gene that are transcribed into pre-mRNA but are removed during RNA splicing, while exons are the coding sequences that remain in the mature mRNA. The presence of introns allows for alternative splicing, which can generate multiple protein variants from a single gene. Understanding the distinction between introns and exons is crucial for interpreting the R-loop structure in the context of gene expression.

Polyadenylated mRNA

Polyadenylated mRNA refers to messenger RNA that has a poly(A) tail added to its 3' end, which is important for mRNA stability, export from the nucleus, and translation efficiency. In the context of the question, the polyadenylated mRNA from the isolated gene Gen-100 would hybridize with the corresponding DNA, facilitating the formation of the R-loop structure. This characteristic is essential for understanding the interaction between mRNA and DNA during gene expression.

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Textbook Question

Three genes identified in the diagram as A, B, and C are transcribed from a region of DNA. The 5'-to-3' transcription of genes A and C elongates mRNA in the right-to-left direction, and transcription of gene B elongates mRNA in the left-to-right direction. For each gene, identify the coding strand by designating it as an 'upper strand' or 'lower strand' in the diagram.

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Textbook Question

Compare the control of gene regulation in eukaryotes and bacteria at the level of initiation of transcription. How do the regulatory mechanisms work? What are the similarities and differences in these two types of organisms in terms of the specific components of the regulatory mechanisms?

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Textbook Question

The eukaryotic gene Gen-100 contains four introns labeled A to D. Imagine that Gen-100 has been isolated and its DNA has been denatured and mixed with polyadenylated mRNA from the gene.

Are intron regions single stranded or double stranded? Why?

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Textbook Question

The eukaryotic gene Gen-100 contains four introns labeled A to D. Imagine that Gen-100 has been isolated and its DNA has been denatured and mixed with polyadenylated mRNA from the gene.

Label the introns.

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Textbook Question

Many promoter regions contain CAAT boxes containing consensus sequences CAAT or CCAAT approximately 70 to 80 bases upstream from the transcription start site. How might one determine the influence of CAAT boxes on the transcription rate of a given gene?

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Textbook Question

Research indicates that promoters may fall into one of two classes: focused or dispersed. How do these classes differ, and which genes tend to be associated with each?

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Textbook Question

Explain the features of the Initiator (Inr) elements, BREs, DPEs, and MTEs of focused promoters.

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Textbook Question

Many transcriptional activators are proteins with a DNA-binding domain (DBD) and an activation domain (AD). Explain how each domain contributes to transcriptional initiation. Would you expect repressors to also have each of these domains?

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The eukaryotic gene Gen-100 contains four introns labeled A to D. Imagine that Gen-100 has been isolated and its DNA has been denatured and mixed with polyadenylated mRNA from the gene.Illustrate the R-loop structure that would be seen with electron microscopy.

Key Concepts

R-loop Structure

Introns and Exons

Polyadenylated mRNA

Watch next

The eukaryotic gene Gen-100 contains four introns labeled A to D. Imagine that Gen-100 has been isolated and its DNA has been denatured and mixed with polyadenylated mRNA from the gene.
Illustrate the R-loop structure that would be seen with electron microscopy.