Question

Which of the following is true about the cells in a multicellular organism? (1 point)

The cells contain different genes and therefore express different genes.

The cells contain different genes, so they express only the genes they have in common.

The cells contain the same genes but do not express the same genes.

The cells contain the same genes and express the same genes.

Answer 1

All of the cells of a multicellular organism (except for B cells, T cells, and red blood cells have the same DNA, which is copied in each cycle of mitosis, split in half, and distributed evenly to both of the daughter cells, however a neuron and a skin cell are very different in the genes that they express, causing their difference in appearance and function. This is because, even though they both contain the same genetic code, they each express different genes. This is mediated in part by the protein packaging that helps organize the DNA, compacting 2 meters of DNA into the size of a chromosome. These packaging proteins (called nucleosomes and scaffolding proteins) can make sections of the DNA harder to access, preventing expression of the packaged genes. Therefor, genes that are needed by neurons, but not in skin cells are tightly packaged in skin cells, preventing their expression in the wrong kinds of cells.

The cells of a multicellular organism all contain the same genes, but they express different ones, depending on what genes are needed for the function of that specific type of cell.

Answer 2

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