Anti Bodies

Question 1

What are the sections of DNA that don’t code for amino acids called?

Answer 1

Introns

Introns are non-coding sections of genes.

Question 2

What are the coding sections of DNA that code for amino acids called?

Answer 2

Exons

Exons are the parts of a gene that are expressed.

Question 3

What is pre-mRNA?

Answer 3

mRNA strands containing both introns and exons

Pre-mRNA is the initial transcript before splicing occurs.

Question 4

What process removes introns from pre-mRNA?

Answer 4

Splicing

Splicing is a post-transcriptional modification that occurs in the nucleus.

Question 5

What is alternative splicing?

Answer 5

The removal of certain exons along with introns to form different mRNA strands

This allows for the production of multiple proteins from a single gene.

Question 6

What is the significance of alternative splicing?

Answer 6

More than one amino acid sequence and more than one protein can be produced from one gene

This increases the diversity of proteins that can be generated.

Question 7

Fill in the blank: During transcription, both _______ and exons are copied into mRNA.

Answer 7

introns

Both types of sequences are included in the initial mRNA transcript.

Question 8

In the context of antibody production, what happens to exons that code for anchoring the antibody to the B cell membrane?

Answer 8

They are removed from the pre-mRNA to produce the heavy chain for the secreted antibody

This selective removal enables the production of different forms of antibodies.

Question 9

True or False: Exons are always included in the final mRNA after splicing.

Answer 9

False

Some exons may also be removed during alternative splicing.

Question 10

What are plasma cells?

Answer 10

Clones of B cells that secrete antibodies specific to an antigen

Plasma cells are also called B effector cells.

Question 11

What do plasma cells secrete into the blood?

Answer 11

Loads of antibodies specific to the antigen

Question 12

What forms when antibodies bind to antigens on pathogens?

Answer 12

Antigen-antibody complexes

Question 13

What are antibodies made of?

Answer 13

Four polypeptide chains: two heavy chains and two light chains

Question 14

What is the function of the variable regions of antibodies?

Answer 14

Form the antigen binding sites with a shape complementary to a particular antigen

Question 15

What is the role of the hinge region in antibodies?

Answer 15

Allows flexibility when the antibody binds to the antigen

Question 16

How do constant regions function in antibodies?

Answer 16

Allow binding to receptors on immune system cells like phagocytes

Question 17

What type of bond holds the polypeptide chains of antibodies together?

Answer 17

Disulfide bridges

Question 18

How do antibodies help to clear infections? List one method.

Answer 18

Agglutinating pathogens

Antibodies bind to two pathogens at the same time, clumping them together for phagocytosis.

Question 19

What is one way antibodies neutralize toxins?

Answer 19

By binding to toxins produced by pathogens, preventing them from affecting human cells

Question 20

How do antibodies prevent pathogens from binding to human cells?

Answer 20

By binding to the antigens on pathogens and blocking cell surface receptors

Question 21

What are the two forms of antibodies?

Answer 21

Membrane-bound and secreted

Question 22

What is a key difference between membrane-bound and secreted antibodies?

Answer 22

Membrane-bound antibodies have an extra section of protein to anchor them to the B cell membrane

Question 23

What is the process of copying a gene into mRNA called?

Answer 23

Transcription

Question 24

Where does transcription take place?

Answer 24

In the nucleus

Question 25

What can happen to mRNA before it is translated into protein?

Answer 25

It can be modified to create more than one protein from the heavy chain gene