Q9 - Reading Adenovirus Transcription/Splicing from EM Images
Sir Richard Roberts (1943-present) discovered the fundamental structure of genes using adenovirus genomes. Under an electron microscope, Roberts identified adenoviral DNA and RNA strands. Eukaryotic mRNA was later found to be missing parts (introns) of the genes, because the RNA sequence was rearranged by splicing.
Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.
A. Each adenovirus RNA is transcribed from the same DNA strand for the whole RNA.
B. Adenovirus mRNA remains bound in a DNA-RNA hybrid duplex for a period of time.
C. Transcription requires helicase activity (separates the two DNA strands).
D. mRNA splicing of these Adenovirus genes uses a similar mechanism to typical Eukaryotic splicing.
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