Question

State the difference between the structural genes in a Transcription Unit of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.

Answer 1

In prokaryotes, the structural genes are polycistronic and continuous, whereas in eukaryotes, the structural genes are monocistronic and split.

In prokaryotes, there is a single DNA-dependent RNA polymerase which synthesises all the types of RNAs (mRNA, tRNA and rRNA), whereas eukaryotes have three RNA polymerases − Pol I, Pol II, and Pol III − to synthesise different types of RNAs.

Answer 2

Eukaryotic transcription units feature monocistronic structural genes, in contrast to the polycistronic arrangement found in prokaryotes. Furthermore, the coding sequences in eukaryotes are split, meaning they are interrupted rather than continuous.