8.2 Gene Expression Flashcards
What is a stem cell?
Undifferentiated cells, that can divide indefinitely and turn into other specific cell types
Name and define three types of stem cell
- Totipotent = can develop into any cell type including placenta and embryo
- Pluripotent = can develop into any cell type excluding placenta and embryo
- Multipotent = can only develop into a few different types of cells
What happens to totipotent cells during embryonic development?
Certain parts of the DNA are selectively translated so that only some genes are ‘switched on’, in order to differentiate the cell into a specific type and form the tissues that make up the foetus
Give a unique feature of pluripotent cells and the use of this feature
They can divide in unlimited numbers, and therefore be used to repair or replace damaged tissue
What is a unipotent cell? Give an example
- A cell that can only develop into one type of cell
- This happens at the end of specialisation when the cell can only propagate its own type
- Example is cardiomyocytes
What types of stem cell are found in embryos?
- Totipotent and pluripotent
- Multipotent and unipotent cells are only found in mature animals
Uses of stem cells
- Medical therapies e.g. bone marrow transplants, treating blood disorders
- Drug testing on artificially grown tissues
- Research e.g. on formation of organs and embryos
How are induced pluripotent stem cells produced?
- From mature, fully specialised cells
- The cell regains capacity to differentiate through the use of proteins, in particular transcription factors
What is a transcription factor?
- A protein that controls the transcription of genes so that only certain parts of the DNA are expressed e.g. in order to allow a cell to specialise
How do transcription factors work?
- Move from the cytoplasm into the nucleus
- Bind to the promotor region upstream of target gene
- Makes it easier or more difficult for RNA polymerase to bind to gene. Increases or decreases the rate of transcription
Give an example of how a hormone that affects transcription and explain how it works
- Steriod hormone oestrogen diffuses through cell membrane
- Forms hormone-receptor complex with ER alpha receptor in the cytoplasm
- Complex enters the nucleus and acts as a transcription factor to facilitate binding of RNA polymerase
What is meant by epigenetics?
A heritable change in gene function without change to the base sequence of DNA
How does increased methylation of DNA affect gene transcription?
- Involves addition of CH3 group to cytosine bases which are next to guanine
- Prevents transcription factors from binding
- Therefore gene transcription is suppressed
How does decreased acetylation of DNA affect gene transcription?
- Positively charged histones bind to negatively charged DNA
- Decreasing acetylation increases positive charge of histones
- Binding becomes too tight and prevents transcription factors from accessing the DNA
- Therefore gene transcription is suppressed
How might epigenetic changes affect humans?
They can cause disease, either by over activating a gene’s function or by suppressing it