Textbook Question
What does a bacterial RNA polymerase produce when it transcribes a protein-coding gene?
a. rRNA
b. tRNA
c. mRNA
d. snRNA
Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function17
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 17, Problem 3
Splicing begins:
a. As transcription occurs.
b. After transcription is complete.
c. As translation occurs.
d. After translation is complete.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of splicing: Splicing is a process in eukaryotic cells where introns (non-coding regions) are removed from the pre-mRNA, and exons (coding regions) are joined together to form mature mRNA.
Recall the sequence of events in gene expression: Transcription occurs first, where DNA is transcribed into pre-mRNA. Splicing happens to process the pre-mRNA into mature mRNA, which is then translated into a protein.
Identify the timing of splicing: Splicing occurs in the nucleus and is closely associated with transcription. In some cases, splicing can begin while transcription is still ongoing, a process known as co-transcriptional splicing.
Eliminate incorrect options: Splicing does not occur during translation or after translation is complete, as translation happens in the cytoplasm and requires mature mRNA. Therefore, options c and d can be ruled out.
Focus on the correct timing: Splicing can occur as transcription is happening (co-transcriptionally) or after transcription is complete, depending on the organism and specific gene being expressed. Both options a and b are relevant, but the emphasis is often on co-transcriptional splicing.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Transcription
Transcription is the process by which the genetic information encoded in DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). This occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and involves the enzyme RNA polymerase, which synthesizes the mRNA strand complementary to the DNA template. Understanding transcription is crucial as it sets the stage for subsequent processes like splicing and translation.
Recommended video:
Guided course
04:16
1) Initiation of Transcription
RNA Splicing
RNA splicing is a post-transcriptional modification where introns (non-coding regions) are removed from the pre-mRNA transcript, and exons (coding regions) are joined together. This process is essential for producing a mature mRNA molecule that can be translated into a protein. Splicing can occur co-transcriptionally, meaning it can begin while transcription is still ongoing, which is key to answering the question.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:32Eukaryotic RNA Processing and Splicing
Translation
Translation is the process by which the mRNA sequence is decoded to synthesize proteins, occurring in the ribosome. This process follows splicing and involves the assembly of amino acids into a polypeptide chain based on the sequence of codons in the mRNA. Understanding the timing of translation relative to transcription and splicing is important for grasping the overall flow of genetic information.
Recommended video:
Guided course
06:12Introduction to Translation
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Where is the start codon located?
a. At the start (5′ end) of the mRNA
b. In the DNA just upstream of where transcription starts
c. At the downstream end of the 5′ untranslated region (UTR)
d. At the upstream end of the 3′ untranslated region (UTR)
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Textbook Question
Compared with mRNAs that have a cap and tail, predict what will be observed if a eukaryotic mRNA lacked a cap and poly(A) tail.
a. The primary transcript would not be processed properly.
b. Translation would occur inefficiently.
c. Enzymes on the ribosome would add a cap and poly(A) tail.
d. tRNAs would become more resistant to degradation.
Textbook Question
RNases and proteases are enzymes that destroy RNAs and proteins, respectively. Which of the following enzymes, if added to a spliceosome, would be predicted to prevent recognition of pre-mRNA regions critical for splicing?
a. An RNase specific for tRNAs
b. An RNase specific for snRNAs
c. A protease specific for initiation factors
d. A protease specific for a release factor
Textbook Question
For each of these statements about the genetic code, select True or False.
a. T/F Wobble pairing accounts for the redundancy of the genetic code.
b. T/F There are 64 different tRNAs that read the 64 possible codons.
c. T/F All possible codons are used, but not all codons specify an amino acid.
d. T/F Some codons are recognized by proteins, not by tRNAs.