Question:

Eukaryotic genes are monocistronic but they are split genes because

Updated On: Apr 9, 2025
  • Introns are interrupted with Mutons.
  • they contain Exons only.
  • they contain Introns only.
  • Exons are interrupted by Introns.
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The Correct Option is D

Approach Solution - 1

  • Monocistronic genes refer to genes that encode for a single protein product in eukaryotes, as opposed to operons in prokaryotes, which may encode multiple proteins.
  • Eukaryotic genes are called split genes because they consist of exons and introns. The exons are the coding regions that are expressed, while introns are the non-coding regions that are transcribed but removed during RNA splicing.
  • Exons are interrupted by introns (Option D). This means that the exons (coding regions) are separated by introns (non-coding regions) within the gene. After transcription, introns are spliced out, leaving the exons to form the final messenger RNA (mRNA) that codes for the protein.

The correct answer is (D) : Exons are interrupted by Introns.

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Approach Solution -2

Eukaryotic genes are monocistronic but they are split genes because

The correct answer is: (D) Exons are interrupted by Introns.

Eukaryotic genes are described as monocistronic, meaning each gene encodes a single protein. However, they are also called "split genes" because the coding sequence of the gene is interrupted by non-coding regions called introns.

Exons are the regions of the gene that contain the actual coding information for the protein. These exons are separated by introns, which do not code for any protein. During the process of transcription, the entire gene, including both exons and introns, is transcribed into mRNA. However, before the mRNA is translated into a protein, the introns are spliced out, leaving only the exons to form the mature mRNA.

This "splitting" of coding regions by non-coding introns is a defining characteristic of eukaryotic genes, differentiating them from prokaryotic genes, which are typically colinear (uninterrupted) between the gene and the protein it codes for.

Thus, the correct explanation for eukaryotic genes being "split" is that Exons are interrupted by Introns.

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