Question

If you were to observe the activity of methylated DNA, you would expect it to

A) be replicating.
B) be unwinding in preparation for protein synthesis.
C) have turned off or slowed down the process of transcription.
D) be very active in translation.
E) induce protein synthesis by not allowing repressors to bind to it.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: C) have turned off or slowed down the process of transcription

There are many types of gene expression regulation in eukaryotes and DNA methylation is one of them. DNA methylation is an epigenetic tool that cells use to lock genes for the transcription (make them in the "off" position).

It is a process by which methyl groups are added to the DNA molecule and thus, activity of a DNA  is changed without changing the sequence.

DNA methylation also has role in chromosome stability, embryonic development, genomic imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation..