Suppose a scientist discovered a mutant strain of C. elegans worms that had lost the ability to regulate gene expression via RNA interference mechanisms. Which of the following might she predict is a possible source of this defect?
A) There is a mutation in the gene that encodes the Dicer enzyme that makes it nonfunctional.
B) There is a mutation that results in an overexpression of siRNAs.
C) There is a mutation in the gene that encodes the Slicer enzyme that allows it to cut RNA more efficiently.
D) There is a mutation in a gene that encodes an acetylase enzyme that prevents histone acetylation.
E) There is a mutation in a gene that encodes an enzyme that selects the correct splice site for alternative splicing.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Dicer enzyme is crucial for processing precursor RNA molecules into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), which are essential for RNA interference. A mutation making Dicer nonfunctional would impair this process, leading to a loss of gene regulation via RNA interference.

Suppose a Scientist Discovered a Mutant Strain of C