Errors in DNA replication are more likely to occur in which region during cell division?

Errors in DNA replication are more likely to occur in which region during cell division?

• A. Gene coding regions
• B. Promoter regions
• C. Microsatellites
• D. Exon-intron boundaries

Answer: (C)

Errors in DNA replication are particularly more likely to occur in microsatellites due to their repetitive nature. Microsatellites consist of short, repeated sequences of DNA that can vary in length among individuals. When the DNA replication machinery encounters these repeating regions, it can sometimes lose track of how many times the sequence has been repeated, leading to insertion or deletion mutations. This phenomenon is known as replication slippage. In contrast, gene coding regions, promoter regions, and exon-intron boundaries, while they may also experience mutations, do not typically exhibit the same propensity for errors as microsatellites. Coding regions are usually subject to more stringent proofreading mechanisms, and promoter regions typically have a more stable sequence requirement for function, while exon-intron boundaries are involved in important splicing processes that generally involve specific sequence recognition rather than the simple repeat structures found in microsatellites. Therefore, the unique characteristics of microsatellites make them more prone to replication errors during cell division.

Errors in DNA replication are particularly more likely to occur in microsatellites due to their repetitive nature. Microsatellites consist of short, repeated sequences of DNA that can vary in length among individuals. When the DNA replication machinery encounters these repeating regions, it can sometimes lose track of how many times the sequence has been repeated, leading to insertion or deletion mutations. This phenomenon is known as replication slippage.

In contrast, gene coding regions, promoter regions, and exon-intron boundaries, while they may also experience mutations, do not typically exhibit the same propensity for errors as microsatellites. Coding regions are usually subject to more stringent proofreading mechanisms, and promoter regions typically have a more stable sequence requirement for function, while exon-intron boundaries are involved in important splicing processes that generally involve specific sequence recognition rather than the simple repeat structures found in microsatellites. Therefore, the unique characteristics of microsatellites make them more prone to replication errors during cell division.