Once researchers identified DNA as the molecule responsible for transmitting heritable traits, they asked how information was transferred from the DNA in the nucleus to the site of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm. Which of the following statements correctly describes the mechanism of information transfer in eukaryotes that accomplishes this task?

A) Transfer RNA takes information from DNA directly to a ribosome, where protein synthesis takes place.
B) Histone proteins in the chromosomes transfer information from the nucleus to the ribosome, where protein synthesis takes place.
C) Messenger RNA is transcribed from a single gene and transfers information from the DNA in the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where protein synthesis takes place.
D) DNA from a single gene is replicated and transferred to the cytoplasm, where it serves as a template for protein synthesi

C) Messenger RNA is transcribed from a single gene and transfers information from the DNA in the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where protein synthesis takes place.

Explanation:

Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product, usually protein. Gene expression include steps such as

• transcription – part of DNA is copied into mRNA via an enzyme RNA polymerase

• RNA splicing – formed mRNA during transcription is not mature so it need to be proceed (e.g. excision of introns). Mature mRNA are then exported from nucleus to cytoplasm

• Translation – mRNA serves as information that codes for the synthesis of one or more proteins.