Scientists identified a mutant allele of the Fursilla gene caused by a deletion of bases 1231-1295 on chromosome 8. What is the likely effect of this mutation? 

(A) No transcription and no translation of Fursilla will occur.

(B) Transcription will not occur, but translation will be unaffected.

(C) Transcription of Fursilla will occur, but no translation will occur.

(D) Both transcription and translation of Fursilla will be unaffected.

A gene responsible for production of hair pigment in dogs is called Fursilla (frsl). A map of the Fursilla locus is shown in Figure 1, below. When expressed, it results in darkly pigmented dog fur. When unexpressed, the hair is devoid of pigmentation and appears pure white. Expression of Fursilla (frsl) depends on the binding/lack of binding of several proteins: Nefur (NEFR), Lesfur (LSFR), and Dirkfur (DRKFR). Figure 2 shows the relative levels of frsl transcript as measured via RT-qPCR when each protein is overexpressed or unexpressed in the cell.

Transcribed Image Text:

mRNA levels 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1220 Start site 1295 Figure 1. Map of the Fursilla region of chromosome 8 Levels of Fursilla transcript NEFR DRKFR LSFR Protein Overexpressed in the Cell mRNA levels 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1617 Levels of Fursilla transcript NEFR DRKFR Protein Unexpressed in the Cell LSFR