The control of gene expression is more complex in multicellular eukaryotes than in prokaryotes because __________.

• A. eukaryotic cells are much smaller
• B. prokaryotes are restricted to stable environments
• C. eukaryotic chromosomes have fewer nucleotides; therefore, each nucleotide sequence must do several jobs
• D. many genes of eukaryotes provide information for making polypeptides
• E. in a multicellular eukaryote, different cells are specialized for different functions

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that gene expression refers to the process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product, often a protein.
2. Recognize that in multicellular eukaryotes, cells are specialized to perform different functions, which requires precise control of gene expression to ensure that the right genes are expressed in the right cells at the right time.
3. Consider that eukaryotic cells have complex regulatory mechanisms, including chromatin remodeling, transcriptional control, post-transcriptional modifications, and epigenetic changes, to manage this complexity.
4. Acknowledge that prokaryotes, being unicellular, do not have the same level of specialization and therefore have simpler gene expression control mechanisms.
5. Conclude that the complexity of gene expression in multicellular eukaryotes is due to the need for different cell types to express different sets of genes, allowing for cellular differentiation and specialization.