Question

The presence of transposons can lead to genome instability due to their ability to cause ..........

• A. Gene disruption
• B. Gene regulation
• C. Chromosome inversions
• D. DNA replication errors

Hint:

Transposons can cause significant genetic disruption, leading to diseases like cancer, as they can alter the normal function of genes during their movement in the genome.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Transposons, also known as "jumping genes," are sequences of DNA that can move or "transpose" themselves to new locations within the genome. Their ability to integrate into different parts of the genome can lead to genome instability in the following ways:
(1) Gene Disruption:
- When transposons insert themselves into or near important genes, they can disrupt the function of those genes, leading to mutations or changes in gene expression. - This disruption can result in the loss of normal gene function or even the activation of oncogenes, both contributing to genomic instability.

(2) Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
- Gene regulation (Option 2) is not directly influenced by transposons; instead, they affect the genome by inserting themselves in specific locations and causing disruptions rather than regulating genes.
- Chromosome inversions (Option 3) can occur in the genome, but they are not specifically caused by transposons. They can be a result of other genetic mutations or errors during cell division.
- DNA replication errors (Option 4) are typically caused by problems during DNA replication, not directly by the movement of transposons.

Conclusion: The presence of transposons leads to genome instability primarily due to their ability to cause gene disruption through their integration into essential genomic regions.