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Q6 - Heritable Silencing of a Transgene by RNA

Theoretical A Real exam question - full text reproduced under IBO's CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Gene Regulation: Eukaryotic & Epigenetics

Sir David Baulcombe (1952-present) discovered RNA-directed gene silencing. The gene for green fluorescent protein (GFP) was inserted into plants. The plants were treated with RNAs, which silence GFP, and were then allowed to set seed (the treatment RNAs are not present in the next generation). The treatment RNA sequence was complementary to either the promoter or the protein coding sequences of GFP, or random (non-complementary). The parent plants, their progeny, and controls were imaged under a UV light.

Figure for Q6: Heritable Silencing of a Transgene by RNA

Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.

A. Leaves expressing GFP appear darker under UV light.
B. RNA-directed gene silencing is possible without using treatment RNAs designed to target mRNA.
C. Changes in the expression level of genes can be inherited from one generation to the next without mutating the DNA sequence.
D. Silencing against the protein coding sequence is heritable.
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Question reproduced from IBO 2017, Theoretical Exam A, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Official answer key & worked solutions