Question

Which statement is FALSE?

a) MITES are very common in many eukaryotes and can be present in hundreds of thousands of copies
b) The MuDR A and MuDR B elements need to be mobilized by autonomous mutator elements
c) The MuDR family forms a MULE family= Mu-like elements
d) Ac elements transpose via a nonreplicative mechanism (cut and paste)

Answer 1

Upon analyzing the four given statements related to eukaryotic transposons and mobile genetic elements, all statements provided in the question are found to be true. Hence, there is a discrepancy as the question presupposes one of the statements to be false.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the characteristics and mechanisms of mobile genetic elements, specifically in the context of eukaryotic transposons. To identify the false statement, we must analyze the four given options.

1. MITES (Miniature Inverted-repeat Transposable Elements) are indeed very common in eukaryotic genomes and can be present in a large number of copies. This statement is true.
2. The MuDR A and MuDR B elements do require an autonomous Mu element for mobilization, as non-autonomous elements lack the ability to mobilize on their own. So, this statement is true.
3. The MuDR family does form a group known as Mu-like elements or MULEs, which is also a correct statement.
4. The statement regarding Ac elements transposing via a nonreplicative mechanism (cut and paste) is also true. They move from one site to another without replicating themselves during the process.

With this analysis, all presented statements are factually accurate, which suggests that there is an error in the question because it assumes one of them is false.