Hi, everyone. Let's look at our next question. It says which one of the following statements is incorrect regarding a gene. So let's look through and evaluate our answer choices, remembering that we're looking for an incorrect statement. So a false statement when it comes to defining or describing a gene. So choice A says a gene is a stretch of DNA that contains instructions to make a functional product. Well, this is a true statement. That would be what a gene does. So let's eliminate choice. A choice B says genes can only encode for proteins and not for R N A molecules or regulatory elements. Well, this is a false statement. Um It could trip us up initially because historically, genes were thought, you thought of the one gene, one protein um hypothesis that was made and genes were associated with something that coded for a protein. But we now know that the definition of a gene is wider than that genes can encode for R N A molecules like T R N A or R R N A molecules. And they can encode for regulatory elements like promoters and enhancers. So that would be a false statement. So looks like choice B is our answer since we're looking for an incorrect statement, but to be thorough, we'll look at the others. Choice C says different organisms can have varying numbers of genes in their genomes. Well, that is absolutely true. They can have different numbers of chromosomes. So definitely they can have different numbers of genes. So since that's true, we can eliminate choice. C choice D says mutations in genes can lead to genetic disorders and diseases. Well, this is also true. So we can eliminate choice D. So again, which of the following statements is incorrect regarding a gene choice B genes can only encode for proteins and not for R N A molecules or regulatory elements. See you in the next video.

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

Overview of Transcription

Genetics

10. Transcription

Overview of Transcription

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2:20 minutes

Problem 1a

Textbook Question

What is a gene?

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A gene is a fundamental unit of heredity in living organisms, responsible for encoding the information necessary to produce proteins or functional RNA molecules.

Genes are composed of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) sequences, which are organized into specific regions on chromosomes.

Each gene contains regulatory regions (such as promoters and enhancers) that control its expression, as well as coding regions (exons) and non-coding regions (introns).

The information in a gene is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) through the process of transcription, and this mRNA is then translated into a protein during translation.

Genes play a critical role in determining the traits and functions of an organism, and variations in genes can lead to differences in phenotypes or genetic disorders.

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Key Concepts

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

Definition of a Gene

A gene is a fundamental unit of heredity in living organisms, composed of DNA. It serves as a blueprint for the synthesis of proteins, which perform various functions in the body. Genes are located on chromosomes and can influence traits and characteristics passed from parents to offspring.

Structure of DNA

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that carries genetic information. It consists of two strands forming a double helix, with nucleotides as its building blocks. Each nucleotide contains a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base, which sequences determine the genetic code and the function of genes.

Gene Expression

Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize functional gene products, typically proteins. This process involves two main steps: transcription, where the DNA sequence is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA), and translation, where the mRNA is used to assemble amino acids into proteins. Regulation of gene expression is crucial for cellular function and adaptation.

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