Question

1) A gene located in inactive chromatin will produce RNA but not polypeptides.

Select one:

True

False

2) A gene located in inactive chromatin will not produce RNA but will produce polypeptides.

Select one:

True

False

Answer 1

Inactive chromatin, also known as heterochromatin, is transcriptionally inactive form of DNA which is not accessible to transcription factors or other regulatory elements. Hence, the genes located in this segment of DNA can not be transcribed into RNA. It is important to note that since inactive chromatin cannot produce RNA, it can not produce polypeptides either. This is because of the simple fact that polypeptides are synthesized from RNA and when RNA itself is not there, no polypeptides will be formed.

Hence, both the statements are FALSE.