Question Details

Balbiani rings are found in

Options

A

Heterosome

B

Lampbrush chromosome

C

Autosome

D

Polytene chromsome

Correct Answer :

Polytene chromsome

Solution :

The correct option is Polytene chromsome.

Step-by-step Explanation:

1. Understanding Polytene Chromosomes:
Polytene chromosomes are giant chromosomes commonly found in the salivary glands of dipteran insects, such as Drosophila (fruit flies). They are formed through a process called endoreduplication, where DNA replication occurs repeatedly without cell division or separation of sister chromatids, resulting in thousands of DNA strands aligned parallel to each other.

2. What are Balbiani Rings?
Along these polytene chromosomes, certain localized regions exhibit distinct swellings or puffs. Particularly large and prominent chromosomal puffs are called Balbiani rings (named after Édouard-Gérard Balbiani, who first described them in 1881). These puffs represent sites of intense, active transcription where the DNA unwinds and loops out so that RNA polymerase can transcribe genes into messenger RNA (mRNA).

3. Conclusion:
Since Balbiani rings are characteristic puffs representing active transcription sites specifically on giant polytene chromosomes, they are found in polytene chromosomes.

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