A geneticist introduces a transgene into yeast cells and isolates five independent cell lines in which the transgene has integrated into the yeast genome. In four of the lines, the transgene is expressed strongly, but in the fifth there is no expression at all. Which is a likely explanation for the lack of transgene expression in the fifth cell line?
A)A transgene integrated into a heterochromatic region of the genome.
B)A transgene integrated into a euchromatic region of the genome.
C)The transgene was mutated during the process of integration into the host cell genome.
D)The host cell lacks the enzymes necessary to express the transgene.
E)A transgene integrated into a region of the genome characterized by high histone acetylation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Integration of a transgene into a heterochromatic region of the genome can lead to the silencing of the gene due to the compact and condensed structure of heterochromatin, which limits accessibility of transcriptional machinery to the transgene.

A Geneticist Introduces a Transgene into Yeast Cells and Isolates