BIOL 4041 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Sensillum, Lateral Rectus Muscle, Abducens Nerve

Briefly describe/define the following experimental techniques.Research the technique using Internet, textbooks, or any othermaterial. The idea is to get familiar with the set of tools used tomeasure or visualize gene expression in cells, tissues, ororganisms - we'll be talking about these techniques a lot in thiscourse.

While you are doing this, think carefully about what kind ofinformation about gene expression can andcannot be gained when using the techniques you areresearching. In your description, don't concern yourself with minorexperimental details, but focus on what you can find out with thehelp of a given technique. What kind of questions can be answeredif you apply it?

Imagine that you would like to know 1) when the gene isexpressed, 2) which cells/tissues it is expressed in, 3) at whatlevels it is expressed, and 4) also would like to have thisinformation for both kinds of typical gene products (i.e. RNAs andproteins).

• Think about what kind of a gene product can bemeasured/visualized using this particular technique. Would you getinformation about the gene expression at the RNA level or at theprotein level?
• What do you need to have (in terms of the most criticalreagents or knowledge/information) in order to use thistechnique?
• Is the technique appropriate for determining where the gene isexpressed, when it is expressed, or both?
• Will it be informative if you use it for very smallorganisms/embryos in which you cannot easily separate cells?
• Can it be used to determine subcellular localization of aprotein or RNA (for example to determine if the protein localizesto the nucleus or to the plasma membrane?).

QUESTION:

1. Immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescentstaining

You have discovered a new Xenopus gene that codes for a RNAbinding protein. You are not sure what its function is but you areinterested in finding out as much as you can about the protein'srole in development of the embryo (from oocyte to tailbud stage) sothat you can publish your results. You have tentatively called theprotein Xp65 (Xenopus protein 65 kDa).

A) How would you go about determining where and when the gene isexpressed in the embryo? Make sure that you think about all theimportant information that you would want to know to understandwhen and where this gene product might be functioning. B) Once youhave established the expression profile, what might you want to doto help you understand how the gene effects development? Explainwhat experiments you might run, and why.

C) The protein turns out to have a role in transcriptionalactivation during gastrulation in addition to its RNA bindingactivities. What might you do to determine the targets of thisprotein (what it turns on)?

D) You find that the gene has an ortholog in Drosophila. Whatmight you want to do in Drosophila that you cannot do in Xenopus?Explain why this might work in Drosophila but not Xenopus.

13

Which of the two major categories of the chemical reactions in photosynthesis is oxygen the INDIRECT product?

A

Glycolysis

B

Oxidative phosphorylation

C

Both light and dark

D

Light independent phase (LIP)

E

Light dependent phase (LDP)

14

You have a stomach flu characterized by vomiting. Which of the following systems is most responsible for the food in your stomach going the wrong way, e.g. vomiting? (Disregard this question and answer choice B)

A

Cardiac Muscle in the large intestine as discussed in class.

B

Smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal tract

C

Smooth muscle in the blood vessels

D

Skeletal muscle in the intestine

15

Proteins are made from which of the following smaller sub units?

A

Nucleotides

B

Amino acids that cannot enter the blood stream and go to cells

C

Monosaccharides

D

Fatty acids

E

Amino acids which can form new protein

16

Carbohydrates are digested in the gastrointestinal system into which of the following substances that is the smallest structure?

A

Polysaccharides that are produced by glucagon

B

Monosaccharides that are produced by insulin

C

Monosaccharides

D

Polysaccharide

17

Which of the following biomolecules has the longest digestion time? In other words, how long does it take for the biomolecule to be catabolized?

A

DNA

B

Lipid

C

Carbohydrate

D

Protein

18

You are sunburned after a long day at the beach. Which one is not an example of UV damage to your skin cells?

A

A mutation can occur in your ovaries

B

A mutation can occur in skin cell DNA that can lead to errors in transcription.

C

Errors can occur during DNA replication.

D

UV light can cause mutations in DNA of skins cells.

E

Thymine bases in your skin DNA bond with each other instead of across the double helix

19

This region, the ______________ (a) tells RNA polymerase where to bind to DNA while this region, the ______________ (b) tells RNA where to start transcription.

A

(a) promoter, (b) open reading frame

B

(a) start codon, (b) methionine

C

(a) promoter, (b) start site

D

(a) start site, (b) promoter

20

The genetic code is used to translate ______________ into ______________.

A

lipids, nucleotides

B

nucleotides,carbohydrates

C

nucleotides, lipids

D

nucleotides, amino acids

E

nucleosides, amino acids

21

Transcription of a gene has just completed. What are the next steps (in the correct order) to complete expression of that gene?

A

RNA polymerase makes a copy of DNA into mRNA.

B

mRNA is translated in the nucleus and ribosomal RNA moves into the cytoplasm.

C

Gene expression is completed after transcription.

D

mRNA moves into the cytoplasm and with tRNA they interact to form protein

E

Translation machinery moves into the nucleus and mRNA is translated into protein.

22

How is it that a mutation in DNA stored inside the nucleus of a cell can cause a disease affecting multiple organs?

A

This remains an unanswered question in science that scientists are still trying to figure out.

B

The mutated DNA is expressed in multiple cells through the process of transcription and translation, and the altered protein causes the disease wherever the DNA was expressed.

C

The mutated DNA is expressed in one cell and the altered protein travels to multiple organs to cause disease.

D

The mutated DNA is expressed and the mRNA takes the mutated information to other cells where the altered protein is made to cause disease in that organ.

23

The advantage of sickle cell anemia is which of the following?

A

It decreases the amount of oxygen in the blood cells so that mosquitoes carrying malaria will live

B

It decreases the amount of oxygen in the blood cells so that mosquitoe's blood form will die.

C

It allows the blood vessels to decrease the amount of blood going to the toes and feet.

D

There is none.

24

Which of the following is a purpose of cell division?

A

Cell reproduction

B

Growth

C

Repair

D

All of these