H2 Biology RTT2 Revision 2022-2023

Name: Class:

Control of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Genome

Exercise

Which protein binds to which DNA in eukaryotes?

Protein DNA

Activator   Promoter

Repressor   Distal control elements

RNA polymerase   Enhancer

General transcription factors   Silencer

Specific transcription factors 

1 Control of gene expression can occur at the genomic level, transcriptional level, post-
transcriptional level, translational level and post-translational level.

(a) Describe two ways in which gene expression is turned off at the genomic level in eukaryotes.

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(b) The most significant level of control of gene expression in cells is at the transcriptional level.

Describe two similarities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in terms of control of gene
expression at the transcriptional level.

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H2 Biology RTT2 Revision 2022-2023

(c) Explain why prokaryotic mRNAs are more rapidly degraded as compared to eukaryotic mRNAs,
and why this is advantageous to prokaryotes.

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(d) Describe the post translational modifications that occur in eukaryotes.

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H2 Biology RTT2 Revision 2022-2023

2 Cancer cells can be associated with up-regulated levels of telomerase and subsequent telomere
maintenance. Fig. 2.1 shows combinatory regulation to stimulate the expression of the human
telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene in a cancerous cell.

spacer estrogen response element (ERE)

DNA

estrogen-receptor complex

acetyl groups
histones

TATA box

hTERT gene

Fig. 2.1
(a) With reference to Fig. 2.1,

(i) state the level at which hTERT gene expression is regulated by estrogen;

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(ii) explain how the estrogen-receptor complex achieves the regulation of hTERT gene
expression and,

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(iii) describe another way in which regulation of hTERT gene expression is achieved.

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H2 Biology RTT2 Revision 2022-2023

(b) Fig. 2.2 shows the action of human telomerase

Fig. 2.2

(i) Describe the function of the hTERT.

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(ii) Telomerase RNA is encoded by a separate gene (hTR).

Describe the role of telomerase RNA in a cell.

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(c) Cancer is a multi-step process that involves more than having up-regulated telomerase activity.

Explain how modification of gene expression may lead to cancer.

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