Microbiologists describe the processes of transcription and tr...

Question

Microbiologists describe the processes of transcription and translation as 'coupled' in bacteria. This term indicates that a bacterial mRNA can be undergoing transcription at the same moment it is also undergoing translation. Is coupling of transcription and translation possible in single-celled eukaryotes such as yeast? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

Hi, everyone. Here's our next question. Bacteria undergo coupled transcription and translation while this process is not possible in single cell eos for example, yeast, why? And we have choice. A because bacterial cells are small and less complex as compared to large eukaryotic cells. B because bacterial cell genes are simple and therefore can be simultaneously transcribed and translated as compared to complex genes of EOS choice C because bacteria contain 70 S ribosomes which are capable of translating the M R N A as it is being transcribed instead of A S E Caro ribosomes and Joyce D because bacteria have their genome and ribosomes in the cytoplasm while you carry outs have them separated in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Well as our question tells us in bacteria, transcription and translation are coupled, they can happen simultaneously. So ribosomes can associate with and initiate translation on an M R N A molecule before it's being done being transcribed. And this doesn't happen in you carry outs. Why is that? Well, as we read through our answer choices, you might note that all of them were correct in terms of describing differences between bacteria and U Caros. But we're not looking for just a correct description. We want to know why you couldn't have a coupled transcription and translation. And only one of these answers describes that and that is choice D which is the physical separation of the genome and the ribosomes in New Caros. So E caros have their genome in the nucleus. So all the R N A has to be transcribed from DNA where the DNA is located in the nucleus and the translation machinery in the cytoplasm. So all of the M R N A that's been transcribed needs to be transported out to the cytoplasm. They can't happen at the same time because the machinery to do the DNA source template and the machinery to do the translation are in physically separate locations. And new Caro cells, bacteria don't have a nucleus and everything happens in the cytoplasm of the cell. So they can have those processes going at the same time since everything's all in the same place. So our other answer choices again are correct descriptions of differences but not explanations. So yes, in choice. A bacterial cells, bacterial cells are smaller and less complex and they are simple as in choice B and they do have 70 S ribosomes. That's the size of the ribosomes versus A DS U carry out ribosomes. But none of those answer choices describe why you can't have simultaneous transcription and translation. So again, our answer to that is choice D because bacteria have their genome and ribosomes in the cytoplasm, while e caros have them separated in the nucleus and cytoplasm. See you in the next video.

Key Concepts

Transcription

Translation

Eukaryotic Cell Structure

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