You are studying the characteristics of retroviral integration and replication in mouse cells. You find that in your cells the integrated retroviral genome is highly methylated and transcriptionally inactive. Given these findings, it is most likely that the retrovirus integrated into which of the following chromosomal structures?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Heterochromatin is typically highly methylated and transcriptionally inactive, which matches the characteristics of the integrated retroviral genome in the study. In a broad consideration of chromatin structure there are 2 forms: heterochromatin and euchromatin, which were originally designated based on cytological observations of how darkly the 2 regions were stained. Heterochromatin is more densely packed than euchromatin and is often found near the centromeres of the chromosomes. Heterochromatin is generally transcriptionally silent. Euchromatin on the other hand is more loosely packed and is where active gene transcription will be found to be taking place.

You Are Studying the Characteristics of Retroviral Integration and Replication