Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Question:

Read the given passage 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. However, unlike in the process of replication, which once set in, the total DNA of an organism gets duplicated, in transcription only a segment of DNA and only one of the strands is copied into RNA.  The promoter and terminator flank the structural gene in a transcription unit. The promoter is said to be located towards 5' -end (upstream) of the structural gene (the reference is made with respect to the polarity of coding strand). 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. By switching its position with terminator, the definition of coding and template strands could be reversed. The terminator is located towards 3' -end (downstream) of the coding strand and it usually defines the end of the process of transcription.

What components make up a transcription unit?

Options:

A promoter, a structural gene, and a terminator.

A structural gene and a terminator.

A promoter and a structural gene.

A promoter and a terminator.

Correct Answer:

A promoter, a structural gene, and a terminator.

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (1)- A promoter, a structural gene, and a terminator.

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. However, unlike in the process of replication, which once set in, the total DNA of an organism gets duplicated, in transcription only a segment of DNA and only one of the strands is copied into RNA. This necessitates defining the boundaries that would demarcate the region and the strand of DNA that would be transcribed.

A transcription unit in DNA is defined primarily by the three regions in the DNA :
(i) A Promoter
(ii) The Structural gene
(iii) A Terminator