Which mechanism best accounts for the production of distinct cell types from a single genome?

Answer: Differential transcriptional regulation, including tissue-specific transcription factors and chromatin remodeling. All somatic cells generally share the same genome; cell identity arises from differential gene expression driven by tissue-specific transcription factors, chromatin states, and signal-regulated networks.

All cells in a multicellular organism share the same genome. Cells differ in function because of

Answer: Differential gene expression — different sets of genes are turned on/off Tissue identity is determined by which genes are expressed, not by genome differences.

A eukaryotic gene's protein product was made by which sequence of events?

Answer: Transcription in nucleus → mRNA processing → mRNA export → translation in cytoplasm Eukaryotic transcription happens in the nucleus; mRNA is processed (cap, poly-A, splicing), exported, then translated by cytosolic or ER-bound ribosomes.

AP Biology · Topic 6.6

Gene Expression and Cell Specialization Practice

Part of Gene Expression and Regulation.(IST-2.B)

Practice questions

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Sample questions

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Sample 1difficulty 2/5
$Which mechanism best accounts for the production of distinct cell types from a single genome?$
- A
  $Different cells use different genetic codes.$
- B
  $Differential transcriptional regulation, including tissue-specific transcription factors and chromatin remodeling.$
  check_circle
- C
  $Random translation of identical mRNAs.$
- D
  $Each cell type contains a different set of genes.$
Why
$All somatic cells generally share the same genome; cell identity arises from differential gene expression driven by tissue-specific transcription factors, chromatin states, and signal-regulated networks.$
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Sample 2difficulty 2/5
$All cells in a multicellular organism share the same genome. Cells differ in function because of$
- A
  $Different chromosome numbers maintained in each specialized cell type$
- B
  $Different genomes inherited by each tissue type during development$
- C
  $Differential gene expression — different sets of genes are turned on/off$
  check_circle
- D
  $Different DNA sequences arising in each tissue through somatic mutation$
Why
$Tissue identity is determined by which genes are expressed, not by genome differences.$
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Sample 3difficulty 3/5
$A eukaryotic gene's protein product was made by which sequence of events?$
- A
  $Transcription in nucleus \to mRNA processing \to mRNA export \to translation in cytoplasm$
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- B
  $Translation of DNA \to mRNA processing in nucleus \to protein export to cytoplasm$
- C
  $Splicing in cytoplasm \to transcription in nucleus \to translation at the nuclear envelope$
- D
  $Transcription in cytoplasm \to mRNA processing \to mRNA import \to translation in nucleus$
Why
$Eukaryotic transcription happens in the nucleus; mRNA is processed (cap, poly-A, splicing), exported, then translated by cytosolic or ER-bound ribosomes.$
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Sample 4difficulty 3/5
$During embryonic development, cells differentiate into specialized types primarily because$
- A
  $Each cell loses different chromosome regions over divisions, producing distinct DNA content patterns$
- B
  $Different cells receive different parental DNA strands during mitosis, producing distinct inheritance patterns$
- C
  $Tissue-specific somatic mutations accumulate in each lineage, producing distinct genomic sequence patterns$
- D
  $Different sets of regulatory genes (transcription factors) are activated, producing distinct gene expression patterns$
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Why
$Master regulators (e.g., Hox genes) and signaling cascades produce cell-type-specific transcription factor patterns; the genome is the same in all cells.$
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