Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT)

What does euchromatin indicate about nuclear activity?

1. Active replication

2. Inactive genetic material

3. Nuclear inactivity

4. Active transcription

The correct answer is: Active transcription

Euchromatin is a form of chromatin that is less condensed and is associated with actively transcribed genes. It indicates that the DNA in that region is accessible for transcription, which means that the genes located in euchromatin are typically in a state of readiness to be expressed. This open configuration allows the necessary transcription factors and RNA polymerase enzyme to bind to DNA and initiate transcription, leading to the production of messenger RNA (mRNA) and subsequent protein synthesis. The characteristics of euchromatin—such as its loose structure compared to heterochromatin—facilitate the transcription process, thus highlighting the activity of the nuclear processes involved in gene expression. While euchromatin plays a role in active transcription, other options like active replication, inactive genetic material, and nuclear inactivity are not associated with euchromatin, as they either describe processes that involve different forms of chromatin or indicate a lack of gene activity.