Apentix/AP Biology/Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation/Question
AP Biologymediummcq1 pt

Engineers place an intron-free DNA sequence encoding a human insulin polypeptide under a bacterial promoter in an Escherichia coli plasmid. Why can bacterial ribosomes synthesize the encoded human polypeptide?

A.The genetic code is nearly universal, so the same codons specify the same amino acids in bacteria
B.Bacteria rewrite foreign genes into their own codon dialect before translating them
C.Insulin is small enough to fold correctly without any genetic instructions
D.The plasmid transforms into a miniature human chromosome obeying human regulatory rules

Explanation

Core Concept

The genetic code is nearly universal, so bacterial ribosomes interpret the codons in an engineered human coding sequence as the same amino acids. Successful commercial insulin production also requires appropriate construct design and processing; a generic unmodified human genomic insulin gene would not automatically yield mature insulin in E. coli.

Correct Answer

AThe genetic code is nearly universal, so the same codons specify the same amino acids in bacteria

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