Ch. 3 Flashcards
Define anabolism
Set of metabolic processes that builds molecules utilizing energy
Define catabolism
Set of metabolic processes that breaks down molecules to make energy
Define enzyme
Protein that catalyzes a chemical reaction in which covalent bonds are made or broken
Define catalyst
Compound that facilitates a chemical reaction without being modified by the reaction (for example, enzymes)
Define transcription factor
Protein that controls the rate of DNA transcription
Define signal transduction
The translation of a signal from one chemical form into another
Define receptor
Protein that binds non-covalently with specific molecules and initiates a change in membrane permeability or cell metabolism
Define ligand-gated channel
Membrane protein that opens to allow diffusion of a solute as a result of binding by a specific signaling molecule (the ligand) to a receptor site on the channel protein
Define genome
The full set of genetic material of an organism
Define top-down
Order of questions in which one begins with asking about animal function and ends with asking about genes
Define bottom-up
Order of questions in which one begins with asking about genes and ends with asking about animal function
Define gene deletion/knockout
Targeted removal or inactivation of a specific gene within an organism’s genome
Define CRISPR
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats - utilization of Cas9 enzyme to cleave target DNA and add or delete a target gene
Define proteomics
Study of proteins
Define metabolomics
Study of chemical processes of metabolism
Define transcriptomics
Study of RNA genome produced through transcription
Why do icefish have white, ghostlike blood?
Icefish don’t produce hemoglobin in their blood, and hemoglobin provides red color as well as carrying oxygen
Describe how icefish differ via genomics.
The icefish genome doesn’t code for hemoglobin.
Why would it be advantageous for icefish to lose their hemoglobin gene?
Since colder water carries more oxygen molecules, there’s no need for the hemoglobin protein. The cost of protein synthesis is ATP-costly, so it’s advantageous to stop the production of hemoglobin altogether.
Why is there a transitional state in Antarctic fish heart coloration?
Red-blooded fish carry both hemoglobin and myoglobin. One species of icefish carries only myoglobin, and another species of icefish carries neither.
Explain the pattern of detoxification mRNA concentration in the malaria mosquito.
These mRNA are increased at night and decreased during the day. Since they feed at night, mosquitos don’t need to constantly produce detox proteins.
