Question

In prokaryotes, a protein-encoding gene is first transcribed into an RNA molecule called ________ RNA.

Answer 1

In prokaryotes, a protein-encoding gene is first transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), which is directly used for protein synthesis without further processing.

Step-by-step explanation:

In prokaryotes, a protein-encoding gene is first transcribed into an RNA molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA). During the process of transcription, RNA polymerase synthesizes RNA by copying the DNA template strand, creating an RNA strand complementary to the DNA sequence.

Unlike eukaryotes, prokaryotes can directly translate mRNA into proteins without the need for further processing since transcription and translation occur almost simultaneously within the cytoplasm. The prokaryotic mRNA is often polycistronic, meaning it can encode multiple proteins within a single RNA molecule.