In a study of Drosophila two normally active genes w wildty

In a study of Drosophila, two normally active genes, w ⁺ (wild-type allele of the white-eye gene) and hsp26 (a heat-shock gene), were introduced (using a plasmid vector) into euchromatic and heterochromatic chromosomal regions, and the relative activity of each gene was assessed (Sun et al., 2002). An approximation of the resulting data is shown in the table below:

.Gene|Euchromatin|Heterochromatin

hsp26|100%|31%

w+|100%|8%

Which characteristics of heterochromatin are supported by the experimental data? Select the two statements that are true.

Heterochromatic genes are more active than euchromatic genes.

Heterochromatic genes are less active than euchromatic genes.

Heterochromatin is more tightly packed than euchromatin.

Heterochromatin is more loosely packed than euchromatin.

Solution

The answers are

Heterochromatic genes are less active than euchromatic genes. and

Heterochromatin is more tightly packed than euchromatin.

Because Euchromatin means chromoatin with functional genes - due to the function of genes it is less tightly packed when compared to euchromatin and heretochromatin have the non functional genes.