Science and Technology
2016
Biotechnology Basics

In the context of the developments in Bioinformatics, the term ‘transcriptome’, sometimes seen in the news, refers to

A.a range of enzymes used in genome editing
D.a mechanism of genetic mutations taking place in cells
B.the full range of mRNA molecules expressed by an organism
C.the description of the mechanism of gene expression

Correct Answer: Option B

In bioinformatics, the transcriptome refers to the complete set of mRNA (messenger RNA) molecules that are expressed from the genes of an organism.

The transcriptome represents the totality of all the genes that are actively being transcribed into RNA in a cell or organism at a specific time.

Unlike the genome, which is relatively stable, the transcriptome is dynamic and can change depending on various factors, such as:

  • Stage of development
  • Environmental conditions
  • Cellular signals

Hence, option b is the correct answer.

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