Class 12 · Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Transcription Unit Components — NEET Biology

✅ Asked in NEET 2026
✅ NEET 2026 PYQ · Asked 3 times

Which statements are correct about a transcription unit? A. Defined by promoter, structural gene and terminator. B. Promoter is towards 5' end of structural gene. C. Promoter is binding site for RNA polymerase. D. Promoter defines template and coding strands. E. Terminator is at 3' end of coding strand and ends transcription.

Q1 of 3NEET 2026 (cancelled)

Which statements are correct about a transcription unit? A. Defined by promoter, structural gene and terminator. B. Promoter is towards 5' end of structural gene. C. Promoter is binding site for RNA polymerase. D. Promoter defines template and coding strands. E. Terminator is at 3' end of coding strand and ends transcription.

Q2 of 3NEET 2024

A transcription unit in DNA is defined primarily by the three regions in DNA and these are with respect to upstream and downstream end:

Q3 of 3NEET 2018

All of the following are parts of an operon, except: (NEET 2018)

Answer & NCERT explanation

Correct answer: D A, B, C, D and E

All five statements correctly describe features of a transcription unit: it has three regions (promoter, structural gene, terminator); the promoter sits at the 5' end, binds RNA polymerase, defines template/coding strands; and the terminator marks the 3' end where transcription stops.

Read more NCERT concept on the PYQ

📖 NCERT Source

A transcription unit in DNA is defined primarily by the three regions in the DNA: (i) A Promoter (ii) The Structural gene (iii) A Terminator

NCERT Biology · Class 12 · Chapter 5 · Paragraph 72
How NTA Uses This Concept

A transcription unit consists of three essential parts: the promoter (where RNA polymerase binds), the structural gene (coding sequence), and the terminator (where transcription stops). NTA tests whether students can identify and distinguish these three regions and understand their functions. Common mistakes include confusing the promoter with the operator, thinking the entire chromosome is transcribed, or misunderstanding that the terminator is a DNA sequence, not a protein. Remember: the promoter is non-coding but essential for initiation, the structural gene gets transcribed into mRNA, and the terminator signals transcription cessation. This concept appears repeatedly in NEET because it's foundational to understanding gene expression.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does NCERT say about transcription unit DNA defined?
A transcription unit in DNA is defined primarily by the three regions in the DNA: (i) A Promoter (ii) The Structural gene (iii) A Terminator
Has this concept appeared in NEET?
Yes — appeared in NEET 2026 (cancelled), 2024, 2018. Explicitly defines transcription unit with promoter, structural gene, terminator
Which chapter is this from?
Molecular Basis of Inheritance, Class 12 NCERT Biology.

Through deep analysis of NEET and NTA, 88 of 90 questions from the NEET 2026 paper were matched straight from the MedicNEET Biology question bank.

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