Textbook Question
Splicing begins:
a. As transcription occurs.
b. After transcription is complete.
c. As translation occurs.
d. After translation is complete.
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 1
What does a bacterial RNA polymerase produce when it transcribes a protein-coding gene?
a. rRNA
b. tRNA
c. mRNA
d. snRNA
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the role of RNA polymerase: RNA polymerase is an enzyme responsible for synthesizing RNA from a DNA template during the process of transcription.
Identify the type of gene being transcribed: The problem specifies that the gene being transcribed is a protein-coding gene. Protein-coding genes are responsible for producing messenger RNA (mRNA).
Recall the function of mRNA: mRNA serves as the template for protein synthesis during translation. It carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where proteins are assembled.
Eliminate incorrect options: rRNA (ribosomal RNA) and tRNA (transfer RNA) are involved in the translation process but are not produced from protein-coding genes. snRNA (small nuclear RNA) is involved in RNA splicing and is not related to protein-coding genes.
Conclude that the correct answer is mRNA, as it is the RNA product synthesized by RNA polymerase when transcribing a protein-coding gene.
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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 RNA is synthesized from a DNA template. In bacteria, RNA polymerase binds to a specific region of the DNA called the promoter and unwinds the DNA strands. It then synthesizes a complementary RNA strand, which is crucial for gene expression.
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04:16
1) Initiation of Transcription
Types of RNA
There are several types of RNA produced during transcription, including messenger RNA (mRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and small nuclear RNA (snRNA). Each type has a distinct role; for instance, mRNA carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis, while rRNA and tRNA are involved in the translation process.
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07:20Introduction to Types of RNA
Bacterial RNA Polymerase
Bacterial RNA polymerase is the enzyme responsible for synthesizing RNA from a DNA template in prokaryotes. Unlike eukaryotic cells, bacteria have a single type of RNA polymerase that can transcribe all types of RNA, primarily producing mRNA for protein-coding genes, which is essential for cellular function and response to environmental changes.
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05:03DNA Polymerase Requirements
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.