Biotechnology- Principles and Processes Question 41
41. What is antisense technology?
[2008]
(a) A cell displaying a foreign antigen used for synthesis of antigens
(b) Production of somaclonal variants in tissue cultures
(c) When a piece of RNA that is complementary in sequence is used to stop expression of a specific gene
(d) RNA polymerase producing DNA
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Answer : c
Hints & Solutions
(c) An RNA molecule whose base sequence is complementary to that of the RNA transcript of a gene, i.e. the sense RNA, such as a messenger RNA (mRNA). Hence, an antisense RNA can undergo base pairing with its complementary mRNA sequence. This blocks gene expression, either by preventing access for ribosome to translate the mRNA or by triggering degradation of the double stranded RNA by ribonuclease enzymes. Antisense RNA and DNA both have therapeutic potential for modifying the activity of disease causing genes.
