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Interlude B
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Interlude E

Geneticists Discover New Role for Antisense RNA

Nature, 27 Feb. 2003

Dartmouth Medical School geneticists studying the biological clock have opened yet another window into the role of an unusual form of RNA known as antisense that blocks the messages of protein-encoding genes.

» Read the full article

Active Reading Questions

  1. The antisense RNA described in this article tends to match a segment of mRNA. This complex prevents the mRNA from carrying out its function. What does mRNA do in a normal cell?
    a) mRNA carries the genetic message transcribed from DNA.
    b) mRNA represents an actual genetic message in that it is primed for export from the nucleus, and non-coding material has been clipped out of it.
    c) mRNA complexes with ribosomes and tRNA to translate the DNA message to protein.
    d) All of the above.
  2. What property of mRNA makes it vulnerable to the effects of anti-sense RNA?
    a) mRNA is double stranded.
    b) mRNA is single stranded.
    c) mRNA is an unstable molecule.
    d) None of the above.
  3. Explain the flow of genetic information in a normal eukaryotic cell. How can antisense RNA stop this information flow?
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