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Why does eukaryotic mRNA require extensive processing before translation, while bacterial mRNA generally does not?

  • A Bacterial cells are understood to largely lack ribosomes needed for translating any mRNA transcript
  • B Bacterial genes do not have introns and transcription/translation are not separated by a nuclear membrane
  • C Eukaryotic mRNA transcripts are understood to rarely require any start codon before translation begins
  • D Bacterial RNA polymerase is understood to synthesise mainly tRNA molecules, rarely any mRNA transcripts

Correct answer: B. Bacterial genes do not have introns and transcription/translation are not separated by a nuclear membrane

Explanation: Bacterial (prokaryotic) genes typically lack introns and translation can begin even before transcription is complete since there is no nuclear membrane separating the processes, so extensive processing like splicing is not required as in eukaryotes.

Concept context

DNA structure, replication, transcription, translation, the genetic code, and gene regulation (lac operon). The single most important chapter for NEET molecular biology.

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