Question

A scientist splices a eukaryotic promoter in front of a bacterial gene and inserts the gene in a bacterial chromosome. Would you expect the bacteria to transcribe the gene?

Short answer

No, Prokaryotes use different promoters than eukaryotes.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Introduction

Promoters are the large nucleotides that initiate the transcription or formation of RNA from the DNA strand.

Step 2. Explanation 

Promoters are present in DNA which is the region from where RNA polymerase starts to transcribe genes. It basically initiates transcription. Prokaryotes carry three promoter elements -10, -35, and UP elements, whereas eukaryotes have a wide variety of promoter elements. Eukaryotic promoters are more complex than prokaryotes and DNA tends to fold back in itself. The TATA-binding protein binds to the TATA box and assists in the subsequent binding of RNA polymerase whereas prokaryotes have a similar Pribnow box (TATAAT). Hence, Bacteria would not transcribe the gene as promoters of prokaryotes are different from the promoters of eukaryotes.