Question

Question: Why is it beneficial for single cellular organisms to be able to regulate their gene expression?

Answer 1

Single cellular organisms or prokaryotes donot have nuclear membrane. Thus the transcription and translation takes place simultaneously. Hence, the regulation of gene expression can be directly at the transcriptional level. If more protein needed more transcription, if less protein needed less transcription. This made the regulation more simpler and helps in the faster multiplication of cells.

Where as in eukaryotes contain nuclear membrane. Thus transcription takes place in nucleus and then the RNA comes out to cytoplasm for translation. Both transcription and translation are physically separated by nuclear membrane. Regulation can be at any step.

Hence, for unicellular organisms both transcription and translation takes place simultaneously made regulation more easy. Thus increase in number more rapidly.