Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Question:

Read the passage given below and answer the following question.
The process of copying genetic information from one strand of the DNA into RNA is termed as transcription. Here also, the principle of complementarity governs the process of transcription, except the adenosine complements now forms base pair with uracil instead of thymine. A transcription unit in DNA is defined primarily by the three regions in the DNA. There is a convention in defining the two strands of the DNA in the structural gene of a transcription unit. Since the two strands have opposite polarity and the strand that has the polarity 3'→5' acts as a template, and is also referred to as template strand. The other strand which has the polarity (5'→3') and the sequence same as RNA (except thymine at the place of uracil), is displaced during transcription. Strangely, this strand (which does not code for anything) is referred to as coding strand. The promoter and terminator flank the structural gene in a transcription unit. It is a DNA sequence that provides binding site for RNA polymerase, and it is the presence of a promoter in a transcription unit that also defines the template and coding strands.

A Transcription unit in DNA is defined primarily by which regions in DNA? (Question 4)

Options:

A Terminator

The Structural Gene

A Promoter

All of the above

Correct Answer:

All of the above

Explanation:

The correct answer is 4. All of the above.

A transcription unit in DNA is defined primarily by the following regions:

  1. Promoter: The promoter is a region of DNA that signals the starting point for transcription. It provides the binding site for RNA polymerase, the enzyme responsible for synthesizing RNA from the DNA template.

  2. Structural Gene: The structural gene is the DNA sequence that encodes the information to build a functional RNA or protein product. It includes the coding region for the RNA molecule that will be transcribed.

  3. Terminator: The terminator is a DNA sequence that signals the end of transcription. It marks the point at which RNA polymerase should stop synthesizing the RNA molecule.

Therefore, all of the above components (Promoter, Structural Gene, and Terminator) collectively define a transcription unit in DNA.