In the context of the developments in Bioinformatics, the term ‘transcriptome’, sometimes seen in the news, refers to
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) a range of enzymes used in genome editing
(b) the full range of mRNA molecules expressed by an organism
(c) the description of the mechanism of gene expression
(d) a mechanism of genetic mutation taking place in cells
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- A transcriptome is the full range of messenger RNA, or mRNA, molecules expressed by an organism.
- The term “transcriptome” can also be used to describe the array of mRNA transcripts produced in a particular cell or tissue type.
- In contrast with the genome, which is characterized by its stability, the transcriptome actively changes.
- In fact, an organism’s transcriptome varies depending on many factors, including stage of development and environmental conditions.
