3.20 Flashcards
Barbara / Sarah
What is the essential molecule that carries oxygen around the body?
Haemoglobin
What does adult human haemoglobin contain?
2 alpha and 2 beta globin chains
Whats does fetal haemoglobin contain?
contains 2 alpha and 2 gamma globin chains
Which has a stronger affinity to oxygen, fetal haemoglobin or adult haemoglobin?
fetal haemoglobin
Where does the globin production move to and from?
Globin production moves from the yolk sac in the embryo to the the liver in the fetus and then to the spleen
What does Histone acetylation activate?
It activates the gamma globin gene in the fetus
Why is DNA methylation important for?
It’s important in the silencing the fetal gamma globin genes just before and after birth.
What is Epigenetics?
It involves heritable changes in gene function, without changes to the base sequence of DNA.
How are the changes in the epigenetics caused?
These changes are caused by changes in the environment that inhibit transcription by: increased methylation of the DNA or decreased acetylation of associated histones.
