Chapter 6 – Molecular Basis of
Inheritance
TRANSCRIPTION :
1 Marks Questions
Q.1 : Name the factors for RNA polymerase enzyme which
recognises the start and termination signals on DNA for
transcription process in Bacteria .
Ans. Sigma (s) factor and Rho(p) factor)
Q 2 : Mention the function of non-histone protein.
Ans. Packaging of chromatin
Q.3 : Name the parts ‘X’ and ‘Y’ of the transcription unit
given below.
Ans. X – Template strand, Y – Terminator.
Q.4 : Write the segment of RNA transcribed from the given
DNA
3´ -A T G C A G T A C G T C G T A ‘5´- Template Strand
5´ – T A C G T C A T G C A G C A T ‘3´ – Coding Strand.
Ans. 5’- U A C G U C A U G C A G C A U – 3’ (In RNA ‘T’ is
replaced by‘U’)
Q.5 : Name the process in which unwanted mRNA regions
are removed & wanted regions are joined.
Ans. RNA splicing.
Q. 6 : In which direction, the new strand of DNA
synthesised during DNA replication.
Ans. 5’→→ 3
2 Mark Questions
Q. 7 : The process of termination during transcription in a
prokaryotic cell is being represented here. Name the label
a, b, c and d.
. Ans. (a) DNA molecule
(b) mRNA transcript
(c) RNA polymers
(d) Rho factor
3 Mark Questions
Q.8 : Give two reasons why both the strands of DNA are
not copied during transcription.
Ans. In transcription only a segment of DNA and only one of the
strands is copied into RNA because
A. If both strands act a template, they would code for RNA
molecule with different sequences and the sequences of
amino acids in the coded protein would be different i.e they
will code for entirely different protein. This would
complicate the genetic information transfer machinery.
B. Second, the two RNA molecules if produced simultaneously
would be complementary to each other, hence would form
a double stranded RNA .This would prevent RNA from being
translated into protein and the exercise of transcription
would become a futile one..
Q.9 : Explain how does the hnRNA becomes the mRNA. OR
Explain the process of splicing, capping and tailing which
occur during transcription in Eukaryotes.
Ans.hnRNA is precursor of mRNA. It undergoes
(i) Splicing : Introns are removed and exons are joined
together.
(ii) Capping : an unusual nucleotide (methyl guanosine
triphosphate isadded to the 5´ end of hnRNA.
(iii) Adenylate residues (200-300) are added at 3´ end of
hnRNA
Q.10: Name the three major types of RNAs, specifying the
function of each inthe synthesis of polypeptide.
Ans. (i) mRNA-(Messenger RNA) : decides the sequence of
amino acids.
(ii) tRNA-(Transfer RNA) : (a) Recognises the codon on mRNA
(b) transport the aminoacid to the site of protein synthesis.
(iii) rRNA (Ribosomal RNA) : Plays the structural and catalytic
role during translation.
Q.11 : Illustrate schematically the process of initiation,
elongation and termination during transcription of a gene
in a bacterium.
ANS : IN PROKARYOTES
Transcription takes place in three steps
Initiation
Elongation
Termination
In bacteria, the mRNA provides the template, tRNA brings
aminoacids and reads the genetic code, and rRNAs play
structural and catalytic role during translation.
There is single DNA-dependent RNA polymerase that catalyses
transcription of all types of RNA in bacteria.
RNA polymerase binds to promoter and initiates transcription
(Initiation)
It somehow also facilitates opening of the helix and continues
elongation
Once the polymerases reaches the terminator region, the
nascent RNA falls off, so also the RNA polymerase. This
results in termination.
Q.12 : Define a cistron. Giving examples differentiate
between monocistronic and polycistronic transcription
unit.
Answer. Portion of DNA having information for an entire
polypeptide or trait is called cistron. However by defining a
cistron as a segment of DNA coding for a polypeptide, the
structural gene in a transcription unit jcould be said as
monocistronic (mostly in eukaryotes) or polycistronic (mostly in
bacteria or prokaryotes). In eukaryotes, the monocistronic
structural genes have interrupted coding sequences—the
genes in eukaryotes are split.
The coding sequences or expressed sequences are defined as
exons. Exons are said to be those sequence that appear in
mature or processed RNA. The exons are interrupted by
introns. Introns or intervening sequences do not appear in
mature or processed RNA.
