At which steps do cells control gene expression?
a. interphase, prophase, and metaphase
b. transcription, translation, and the formation of the final protein
c. mitosis, meiosis, and the formation of the final protein
d. transcription, mitosis, and DNA replication

b. transcription, translation, and the formation of the final protein

Explanation:

During transcription, exons are spliced together, introns are removed, a 5' guanosine cap is added, and a poly-A tail is added to the other end of the mRNA molecule, which is critical for the expression of a gene. During translation, you see control of gene expression in the form of regulatory proteins that bind to specific sequences or structures within the 5' or 3' UTR, preventing the attachment of ribosomes. Lastly, during formation of the final protein, some amino acids are altered via the addition of certain molecules like sugar or the removal of certain amino acids from the overall polypeptide, otherwise known as cleavage.