Genetics: From Genes to Genomes, 5th edition
5th Edition
ISBN: 9780073525310
Author: Leland H. Hartwell, Michael L. Goldberg, Janice A. Fischer, Leroy Hood, Charles F. Aquadro
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
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Chapter 16, Problem 28P
Scientists have exploited the siRNA pathway to perform a technique called RNA interference—a means to knock down the expression of a specific gene without having to make mutations in it. The idea is to introduce dsRNA corresponding to the target gene into an organism; the dsRNA is then processed into an siRNA that leads to the degradation of the target gene’s mRNA. One clever method for delivery of the dsRNA to some organisms (the nematode C. elegans, for example) is to feed them bacteria transformed with a recombinant plasmid that expresses dsRNA.
| a. | Draw a gene construct that, when expressed from a plasmid in bacteria, could be used to knock out the expression of gene X of C. elegans. |
| b. | How can you test if gene X expression is obliterated in worms that have eaten the bacteria transformed with a plasmid containing your construct? |
| c. | Do you think that only gene X expression will be affected in these worms? Explain. |
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Students have asked these similar questions
RNAi is a mechanism for regulating gene expression. It utilizes small microRNAs (miRNAs) transcribed in the genome of a particular organism. miRNAs can do which of the following?
cause the degredation of mRNAs from particular genes
directly block the reading of mRNA codons by tRNA anticodons
alter the binding of tRNA to the ribosome
alter the binding of repressor protein to the operator of prokaryotic genes
Gene X codes for a protein in eukaryotes. A mutated eukaryotic cell contains an altered base-pair in an intron of gene X. Which would be the most likely effect of this mutation on the biomolecules in the cell?
The amount of pre-mRNA transcribed from gene X would be less than normal.
The amount of functional protein corresponding to gene X would be less than normal.
The ability of snRNAs to form a spliceosome would be diminished.
The breakdown of mature mRNA corresponding to gene X would be faster
Imagine you are going to label a gene associated with apoptosis in
Symbiodiniaceae with a Yellow Fluorescent Protein (YFP). To
generate the YFP, you know the pre-MRNA looks as follows:
Unspliced YFP premature mRNA
Сap
5' UTR
Exon 1
Intron
Exon 2
Intron
Exon 3
3' UTR
Poly-A tail
If Exon 2 is also required for mRNA stability, what can be predicted
from the possible spliced alternative isoforms formed?
One of the isoforms will not have a poly-A tail
O The alternative splicing of YFP pre-MRNA prevents 5'-capping
The MRNA isoform without Exon 2 will be degraded faster than the other
isoform
Exon 2 will be added to isoform B later to correct the mistake in splicing
The protein translated from one of the mRNA isoforms will possess an
additional functional domain
Chapter 16 Solutions
Genetics: From Genes to Genomes, 5th edition
Ch. 16 - For each of the terms in the left column, choose...Ch. 16 - Does each of the following types of gene...Ch. 16 - List five events other than transcription...Ch. 16 - Which eukaryotic RNA polymerase RNA pol I, pol II,...Ch. 16 - You have synthesized an enhancerless GFP reporter...Ch. 16 - Prob. 6PCh. 16 - Yeast genes have cis-acting elements upstream of...Ch. 16 - A single UASG regulates the expression of three...Ch. 16 - Prob. 9PCh. 16 - a. Assume that two transcription factors are...
Ch. 16 - a. You want to create a genetic construct that...Ch. 16 - In Problem 12, you identified a genomic region...Ch. 16 - Prob. 13PCh. 16 - Prob. 14PCh. 16 - Genes in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes are...Ch. 16 - Prob. 16PCh. 16 - Prader-Willi syndrome is caused by a mutation in...Ch. 16 - The human IGF-2R gene is autosomal and maternally...Ch. 16 - Follow the expression of a paternally imprinted...Ch. 16 - Reciprocal crosses were performed using two inbred...Ch. 16 - Interestingly, imprinting can be tissue-specific....Ch. 16 - Prob. 22PCh. 16 - a. How can a single eukaryotic gene give rise to...Ch. 16 - A hunchback gene, a gene necessary for proper...Ch. 16 - You know that the mRNA and protein produced by a...Ch. 16 - You are studying a transgenic mouse strain that...Ch. 16 - Prob. 27PCh. 16 - Scientists have exploited the siRNA pathway to...Ch. 16 - Researchers know that Fru-M controls male sexual...Ch. 16 - The Drosophila gene Sex lethal Sxl is deserving of...Ch. 16 - Prob. 31P
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