Chapter 9: Epigenetics

Question 1

Epigenetics

Answer 1

Study of phenotypic gene expression of and what factors change the gene (inactive/off or active/on).

Question 2

Changes in gene (on and off) depends on

Answer 2

• Controlling transcription and translation in protein synthesis.
• Products of other genes.
• Environment.

Question 3

Genetics

Answer 3

Study of genes and how they make you.

Question 4

Genome

Answer 4

Hereditary information coded in DNA.

Question 5

Epigenome

Answer 5

All factors that help control which genes are switched on in cell, so which will be proteins produced. Also heritable (passed down).

Question 6

Environmental factors alter epigenome

Answer 6

Stress, nutrition, drugs, diseases, cancer (maybe caused by: changes to genome and/or epigenome, uncontrolled growth).

Question 7

Chromatin in epigenetics

Answer 7

Chromatin are coiled around histones proteins which shape is determined by it’s amino acids. If some amino acids in histone changes, histone shape changes. It may also change gene expression. (Histone modification).

Question 8

Change in histones

Answer 8

-This change allows other proteins to add chemical tags and block certain genes from being copied. Meaning liver cell can stay liver cell. This change is Indirect and controls gene expression.

Question 9

Methylation

Answer 9

Mechanism used by cells to control gene expression by adding a methyl group to DNA.

Occurs at CpG/cytosine-phosphorous-guanine making gene turn off affecting DNA interactions with other proteins and inhibits gene expression by restricting access to RNA polymerase. Methylation can increase or decrease transcription, depends where it attaches and how many.

Question 10

Acetylation

Answer 10

Acetyl group attaches to histone relaxing chromatin structure. This promotes transcription by allowing RNA polymerase access therefore, enhancing gene expression.