Gene expression is often assayed by measuring the level of mRNA produced from a gene. If one is interested in knowing the amount of a final active gene product, a potential problem of this method is that it ignores the possibility of
A) transcriptional control.
B) chromatin condensation control.
C) alternative splicing.
D) translational control.
E) all of the above.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Measuring the level of mRNA produced from a gene can ignore the possibility of translational control, which can affect the amount of final active gene product. Translational control refers to the regulation of gene expression at the stage of translation, after mRNA has been produced. This can include control of initiation, elongation, or termination of translation, as well as control of mRNA stability or localization. Therefore, measuring mRNA levels alone may not accurately reflect the amount of final active gene product.

Gene Expression Is Often Assayed by Measuring the Level of MRNA