What is one major difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes with respect to translation?

• A. Eukaryotes have a 5' cap on mRNA that is recognized by the ribosome, while prokaryotes do not.
• B. Eukaryotes initiate translation in the nucleus, while prokaryotes initiate translation in the cytoplasm.
• C. Prokaryotes use a poly-A tail to initiate translation, while eukaryotes do not.
• D. Eukaryotes use a Shine-Dalgarno sequence for ribosome binding, while prokaryotes do not.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the basic structure of mRNA in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Eukaryotic mRNA typically has a 5' cap and a poly-A tail, whereas prokaryotic mRNA does not have these features.
2. Learn about the initiation of translation in eukaryotes. The 5' cap on eukaryotic mRNA is recognized by the ribosome, which is crucial for the initiation of translation.
3. Explore the initiation of translation in prokaryotes. Prokaryotic mRNA uses a Shine-Dalgarno sequence to facilitate ribosome binding, which is different from the mechanism in eukaryotes.
4. Consider the location of translation initiation. In eukaryotes, translation begins in the cytoplasm, not the nucleus, while in prokaryotes, translation also occurs in the cytoplasm.
5. Clarify the role of the poly-A tail. In eukaryotes, the poly-A tail is involved in mRNA stability and export from the nucleus, but it is not used for initiating translation, unlike the Shine-Dalgarno sequence in prokaryotes.