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Pre AP Biology -GEN 3.2 RNA Transcription- FRQ Exam Style Questions -New Syllabus

Pre AP Biology -GEN 3.2 RNA Transcription- FRQ Exam Style Questions – New Syllabus 2025-2026

Pre AP Biology -GEN 3.2 RNA Transcription- FRQ Exam Style Questions – Pre AP Biology – per latest Pre AP Biology Syllabus.

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Question

The human insulin hormone is produced through protein synthesis. The diagram below illustrates RNA processing which occurs during the transcription stage of insulin production.
(a) Explain the process of translation in polypeptide synthesis.
A mutation has occurred in the intron \(1\) region of the insulin gene.
(b) Explain how this mutation in the intron \(1\) region created a non-functional insulin protein.

Most-appropriate topic codes (Pre-AP Biology):

• TOPIC: GEN 3.3 – Translation: Gene expression includes the process of protein synthesis, which requires transcribing heritable information stored in DNA and translating it into polypeptides — part (a)
• TOPIC: GEN 3.4 – Mutations: Depending on how the changes impact gene expression, mutations may cause negative disruption in gene and protein function — part (b)
• TOPIC: GEN 3.2 – RNA Transcription: RNA synthesis, or transcription, results in three forms of the polymer. — context
▶️ Answer/Explanation
Detailed solution

(a)
Translation is the process by which the genetic code carried by the mature mRNA is decoded into a specific sequence of amino acids to form a polypeptide. This occurs at the ribosome in the cytoplasm.
The process involves the following steps:

  • Initiation: The mRNA binds to the ribosome. The ribosome scans for the start codon (AUG) to begin the process.
  • Elongation: tRNA molecules transport specific amino acids to the ribosome. Each tRNA has an anticodon that is complementary to a specific codon on the mRNA. As the ribosome moves along the mRNA, it catalyzes the formation of peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids.
  • Termination: This continues until a stop codon is reached, at which point the polypeptide chain is released.

(b)
Introns are non-coding regions that must be removed from the pre-mRNA through a process called splicing to create the functional mature mRNA.
A mutation in the intron \(1\) region (particularly at the splice donor or acceptor sites) can disrupt the spliceosome’s ability to recognize where the intron begins or ends. This can lead to:

  • Intron Retention: The intron \(1\) sequence is not removed and remains in the mature mRNA.
  • Reading Frame Shift: When the ribosome translates this aberrant mRNA, the inclusion of the intron changes the sequence of amino acids or introduces a premature stop codon.

As a result, the synthesized polypeptide will have an incorrect primary structure and will fail to fold into the specific 3D shape required for insulin to bind to its receptors, rendering the protein non-functional.

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