Question

Which one (or more) of the following genetic processes is/are likely to be affected by the disruption of codon usage bias in highly expressed genes?

• A. Translation rate
• B. Translation accuracy
• C. Transcription rate
• D. Transcription accuracy

Hint:

Codon bias affects translation efficiency and fidelity.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A, B

The given question asks which genetic processes are likely to be affected by disruption of codon usage bias in highly expressed genes. Codon usage bias refers to the preference of specific codons over others to code for the same amino acid. This phenomenon is especially relevant in the context of highly expressed genes.

1. Translation Rate: Codon usage bias can significantly impact the translation rate. In organisms, certain tRNAs are more abundant than others, matching the preferred codons in highly expressed genes. When codon usage bias is disrupted, it can lead to a mismatch between codons and available tRNAs, slowing down the translation process.
2. Translation Accuracy: Aside from translation rate, codon usage can also influence translation accuracy. Using less-preferred codons may increase the chance of misincorporating amino acids due to subtly mismatched interactions with the tRNAs, potentially leading to errors in protein synthesis.
3. Transcription Rate and Transcription Accuracy: These processes are generally not directly impacted by codon usage bias, as they are concerned with the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template. Here, the bias doesn't play a role in affecting the speed or accuracy of RNA polymerase action.

Based on the above analysis, the correct processes likely affected by disruption of codon usage bias in highly expressed genes are translation rate and translation accuracy.