6. Ageing and Disease

Question 1

What is Ageing?

Answer 1

Time-related deterioration of the physiological functions necessary for fertility and survival.

Question 2

What is Longevity?

Answer 2

How long an organism lives.

Question 3

What is Senescence?

Answer 3

Time related deterioration.

Question 4

What is Semelparity?

Answer 4

Life history of death after first reproduction

Question 5

What is a Telomere?

Answer 5

Repetitive DNA sequences at end of chromosomes

Protect chromosome ends and important for chromosome replication

Question 6

How is Cellular Senescence a defence mechanism?

Answer 6

Senescent cells permanently stop replicating, major role in preventing cancer.

Question 7

What is the Hayflick limit?

Answer 7

Cells can only divide a finite number of times before death, this finite number is the Hayflick limit.

Question 8

Which cells are not subject to the Hayflick limit and why?

Answer 8

Embryonic Stem Cells ( Capable of unlimited expansion
Germline cells (Age clock is re-set with reproduction)
Cancer (Immortal cells)

Question 9

What is Cellular Senescence?

Answer 9

Irreversible cell cycle arrest, driven by a variety of mechanisms.

Question 10

What mechanisms drive Cellular Senescence?

Answer 10

Telomere Shortening
Genotoxic stress
Mitogens
Inflammatory cytokines

Question 11

What is Cancer?

Answer 11

Cells dividing in an uncontrolled way.

Question 12

What is a Carcinogen?

Answer 12

Type of mutagen known to contribute to cancer.

Question 13

What are Proto-oncogenes?

Answer 13

Genes that encode proteins that stimulate cell proliferation.

Question 14

What are Tumour Suppressor Genes?

Answer 14

Genes that encode proteins that prevent cell proliferation

Question 15

How can Proto-Oncogenes be converted into Oncogenes?

Answer 15

Point Mutations
Gene Amplification
Chromosomal Rearrangement

Question 16

What is p53?

Answer 16

Transcription factor that regulates the cell cycle.

Question 17

Where and how does Breast Cancer occur?

Answer 17

Occurs in the cells that line the lobules that manufacture milk. Caused by BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

Question 18

What are the Hallmarks of cancer?

Answer 18

Eight acquired, functional capabilities that allow cancer cells to survive, proliferate and disseminate.

Question 19

Name the 8 Hallmarks of Cancer.

Answer 19

Sustaining proliferative signalling
Evading growth suppressors
Activating invasion and metastasis
Enabling replicative immortality
Resisting cell death
Induced angiogenesis
Enabling characteristics
Emerging Hallmarks

Question 20

What are the theories concerning ageing?

Answer 20

Wear-and-tear theory
Cellular theory
Genetic mutation theory
Autoimmune theory

Question 21

What causes Oedema in heart failure patients?

Answer 21

Fluid transport imbalance

Question 22

What kind of regulatory functions in the endocrine system involved in?

Answer 22

Cellular metabolism
Reproduction and sexual development
Glucose & mineral homeostasis
Heart rate & BP control
Production of immune cells

Question 23

What are hormones?

Answer 23

A type of chemical messenger- it enables an event in one part of the body to have an effect elsewhere in the body

Question 24

What is the Pituitary gland?

Answer 24

Part of the endocrine system. Its main function is to secrete hormones into your bloodstream

Question 25

What is the Hypothalamus?

Answer 25

Region of the fore-brain which coordinates the autonomic nervous system and the activity of the pituitary, controlling temperature, thirst, hunger and other homeostatic systems

Question 26

Name some Anterior Pituitary Hormones

Answer 26

Prolactin
Growth hormone
Lutenising hormone

Question 27

Name two characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease.

Answer 27

Amyloid plaques
Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs)