You are working to identify enhancer regions of a particular gene. The best place to look is

Question

A.  immediately upstream of the promoter.
B.  immediately downstream of the promoter.
C.  primarily upstream of the promoter, possibly some distance away.
D.  primarily downstream of the promoter, including the exons of the coding region.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?

Gather Content
· What do you already know about enhancers?

Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
 Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

C.  primarily upstream of the promoter, possibly some distance away.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question addresses enhancers.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o This question is asking you to weigh and judge evidence, or evaluate, to choose the best of the possible answers.
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?
        o Enhancer regions are elements in the DNA sequence that contain binding sites for specific transcription factors to regulate transcription.

Gather Content
· What do you already know about enhancers?
        o Enhancers are elements in the DNA sequence that contain binding sites for specific transcription factors to regulate transcription.
        o Enhancers are DNA sequencesnecessary for high levels of transcription that can act independently of position or orientation.
        o The ability of enhancers to act over large distances is thought to be accomplished by DNA bending to form a loop, positioning the enhancer closer to the promoter.

Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
        o There is a lot of variability in the placement of enhancers. But what is the general rule of thumb?

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o Generally enhancers are most likely to lie upstream of the promoter, and they can be close or surprisingly far away.
 Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o This question asked what is the best place to look for enhancer elements for a gene.
        o The question required you to weigh and judge evidence, or evaluate, to choose the best of the possible answers.
        o Did you remember that enhancers are usually upstream of the promoter?
        o Did you remember that enhancers can be a long distance away, due to DNA looping?