Transcription, Translation, and Regulation of Eukaryotic DNA - Insect Molecular Genetics - page 65

Unlike prokaryotes, eukaryotic organisms make RNA that differs from the
DNA in the genome. This difference allows genomic information to be affected
by information derived from the environment through epigenetic modifications
( Lyko and Maleszka 2011 ). For example, numerous gene products can act on an
mRNA; some affect nucleotide sequence, whereas others can change the half-
life and translatability. Thus, the way in which pre-mRNA is processed in eukary-
otes has led to new evolutionary opportunities ( Herbert and Rich 1999 ). A full
understanding of the evolution of eukaryotes seems to require knowledge of
the continual interplay between RNA and DNA. Box 2.2 provides an overview of
the types of RNAs important in the functioning of a typical eukaryotic cell. This
list may have to be modified as scientists learn more about the roles of RNAs in
cell biology. The organization of DNA in nuclear chromosomes and in cytoplas-
mic mitochondria is described in Chapter 3.
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