Final answer:
Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling, are common ways to control gene expression and prevent the activity of transposable elements. The false statement is that epigenetic silencing based on DNA methylation is very rare in plants and animals when it is actually quite common. Option 4 is correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the question involves understanding epigenetic silencing, particularly relating to transposable elements in genomes like MuDR. This type of regulation involves various mechanisms such as DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling that affect gene expression.
Transposable element MuDR is inhibited by epigenetic silencing mechanisms which aim to prevent the element from jumping within the genome, which could potentially cause gene disruption or mutation. In this process, double-stranded RNA hairpin formations, small double-stranded RNAs (likely involving the action of the Dicer enzyme), and DNA methylation of the Mu element itself occur.
This DNA methylation generally results in the inactivation of the Mu element and the subsequent formation of heterochromatin, a tightly packed form of DNA which is transcriptionally inactive. The formation of heterochromatin is a signal that the genomic region is not to be expressed. In contrast to the statement to be evaluated, epigenetic silencing based on DNA methylation is actually quite common in plants and animals as a defensive mechanism to control potentially disruptive genetic elements like transposons.
Thus, option 4 ('Epigenetic silencing based on DNA methylation is very rare in plants and animals as a control mechanism to prevent transposons from being active') is the FALSE statement.