- #1
RNA destroyed, and areas of no color showed
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around a homework problem related to RNA destruction and its implications for enzyme production and flower pigmentation. Participants explore the effects of RNA degradation on color expression in plants, considering various answer options and their biological interpretations.
Discussion Character
- Homework-related
- Debate/contested
- Exploratory
Main Points Raised
- Some participants suggest that if RNA is destroyed, it implies no proteins or enzymes are formed, leading to a potential lack of color in certain areas.
- Others propose that a reduction in enzyme levels could result in fainter colors rather than complete absence, questioning the validity of certain answer choices.
- One participant expresses uncertainty about the relationship between cellular RNA levels and multicellular color expression, indicating a need for further clarification.
- Another participant argues that if a transcript is suppressed, it would lead to failure in enzyme production, supporting a specific answer choice.
- There is a discussion about the possibility of enzyme activity being inhibited while still being produced, which complicates the interpretation of the problem.
- A participant introduces the concept of mosaicism, suggesting that early developmental transcription interference could lead to varied color expression in different cells.
- Some participants express that the information provided in the question is insufficient for a definitive conclusion, indicating that additional context from previous questions might be necessary.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally do not reach a consensus, as multiple competing views remain regarding the implications of RNA destruction and the resulting color expression in plants.
Contextual Notes
The discussion highlights limitations in the problem's context, including missing assumptions and the dependence on definitions related to RNA, enzyme activity, and color expression in plants.
- #2
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I would probably go with D as well. The only other option that would make sense is C, but a reduction in level of the enzyme would probably produce a fainter color (e.g. pink color) rather than no color.
- #3
UnD3R0aTh
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Ygggdrasil said:
reduction in the enzyme will produce fainter color? or areas with no color? it might be c because there are areas with color! this is a tricky one! the problem is rna is at the cellular level, the color is at a multicellular level, it's a bit unclear to me please more advice!
- #4
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- 4,198
It's hard to distinguish between C and D without more information.
- #5
chemisttree
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
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If a transcript is supressed, wouldn't it fail to produce the enzyme (so B is the answer)?
- #6
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To me, B (a key enzyme involved in flower pigmentation was inactivated) suggests that the enzyme is still produced but it's activity gets inhibited (for example by a small molecule that blocks the active site), especially given the presence of answer D (a key enzyme involved in flower pigmentation was not produced).
- #7
epenguin
Science Advisor
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The information in the question is pretty insufficient - it might make sense within your course and what you have been told, or the preceding questions, which we do not know.
My best guess for what the first question could mean(!) would be "The flower colour can be influenced by external conditions (temperature, nutrients, minerals or something). The mechanism of this influence has been shown to be that the influencing factor somehow causes degradation of transcripts of a particular gene." I have to presume that it is meant that the effect is not seen until the second generation, and that the treatment with the factor continues then.
What then is described sounds like what is known as mosaicsm. When a character depends on transcripts expressed in early development, if transcription is interfered with, the transcripts can be present in some cells and not others, making a "mosaic" of cells in the organism, example IIRC tortoiseshell cats.
On the face of it I would say it has to be C not D, because some of the plant is red. But maybe D is just possible, through cytoplasmic carry-over of transcripts. I have never heard of such phenomenon, but that is not a strong argument, and if it is thinkable it probably happens somewhere.
I would say C and the others not, because (cheating) there is nothing in the premisses to implicate them. I suspect it would be clearer if we had questions 1 and 2.