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

13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes

Overview of Eukaryotic Gene Regulation

Genetics

13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes

Overview of Eukaryotic Gene Regulation

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0:39 minutes

Problem 1b

Textbook Question

How do we know that misregulation of mRNA stability and decay is a contributing factor in some cancers?

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the concept of mRNA stability and decay: mRNA stability refers to how long an mRNA molecule remains intact in the cell before it is degraded. This process controls how much protein is produced from a gene, as unstable mRNAs lead to less protein synthesis.

Recognize that misregulation means the normal control of mRNA stability is disrupted, causing either excessive degradation or excessive stability of certain mRNAs, which can alter protein levels in cells.

Review experimental evidence from studies where researchers compare mRNA decay rates in normal cells versus cancer cells, often using techniques like RNA sequencing or reporter assays to measure mRNA half-lives.

Note that in some cancers, specific mRNAs that regulate cell growth or apoptosis (programmed cell death) are either abnormally stabilized or degraded, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation or survival, which contributes to cancer development.

Conclude that by linking changes in mRNA stability and decay patterns to altered protein expression and cancer phenotypes, scientists demonstrate that misregulation of mRNA stability is a contributing factor in some cancers.

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Key Concepts

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

Posttranscriptional Regulation of Gene Expression

Posttranscriptional regulation involves controlling gene expression after mRNA is synthesized, including mRNA splicing, transport, stability, and decay. This regulation determines how much protein is produced from an mRNA transcript, affecting cellular function and response.

mRNA Stability and Decay Mechanisms

mRNA stability refers to the lifespan of an mRNA molecule before it is degraded. Specific sequences and proteins influence mRNA decay rates, which control protein levels. Misregulation of these processes can lead to abnormal protein expression linked to diseases like cancer.

Experimental Evidence Linking mRNA Decay to Cancer

Researchers use molecular biology techniques such as RNA sequencing, reporter assays, and decay rate measurements to identify changes in mRNA stability in cancer cells. These studies show that altered mRNA decay contributes to oncogene overexpression or tumor suppressor loss, implicating it in cancer development.