Exam 1 Flashcards
Levels of hierarchical organization
chemicals, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organism
Epithelial tissue function
secretes, absorbs, protects
Connective tissue function
holds it together
Muscle tissue function
contracts & moves
Nervous tissue function
communication & control
What animals do not make vitamin C
primates & guinea pigs; mutations in the gene encoding the last step in the pathway
Vitamin C is used for what
collagen synthesis by fibroblasts
Scurvy affects connective tissue, which means clinical signs are noted where
skin, mucous membranes, & blood vessels
Cholesterol is important for what
membranes & a precursor to steroid hormones & bile acids
Cells acquire cholesterol by what
endocytosis of circulating LDLs
Cholesterol is water insoluble & needs to be transported out the lysosome by
protein machines (NPCs)
With a NPC mutation, what happens to cholesterol
its unable to be removed from the lysosome
Neurological effects from NPC disease due to the toxic accumulation of cholesterol
clumsiness, learning disabilities, & loss of body control (ataxia); premature death
Parasites avoid the spleen by sticking to what
vascular endothelium
Effects of malaria on the body
microvasculature blockage, endothelial activation, organ failure, & cerebral malaria
Medical genetics definition
study of genetic info based on inherited disease
Commodity species are selected for what
production traits
Companion species are selected for what
health & performance
Define genomics
field of studying function & nature of whole genomes/ associated sequence databases
Polymorphism definition
change in DNA sequence relative to a consensus sequence for a species or population
Is polymorphism synonymous to mutation
yes, but mutation implies some lost or changed function
Nature of polymorphisms
single nucleotide changes; large deletions or insertions; other complex changes
Causes of polymorphisms
DNA repair failure; chemical mutagenesis; ionizing radiation; transposable & retro-transposable elements
Different consequences of polymorphisms
none; gain of function; loss of function; attenuated function
Describe gain of function
mutations that changes gene function in a pathological way
Describe loss of function
null defects; usually an absent or totally non-functional protein; critical “site sensitive” mutations (ex: AAs in an enzyme active site; obliteration of a critical signaling sequence)
Describe attenuated function
may confer a trait; may be associated w/ significant disease that is attenuated compared to the more severe (null) form; intermediate function
Coefficient inbreeding equal to 0 means
no in-breeding
Coefficient inbreeding equal to 1 means
completely in-bred (like mice in a lab)
Founder effect definition
rate of disease increases in a new population just by chance
Popular sire & dam effect
same dogs being bred may cause genetic defects in breeds
Most common genetic issues seen in vet med
involves recessive genes since dominant mutations would not be incorporated into breeding programs
Complex inheritance of genes includes what
polygenic; multifactorial; epigenetic; combined effects
Multifactorial includes
environmental & genetic interaction
Epigenetic definitions
non-sequence associated inheritance
Examples of epigenetic
DNA methylation that activates/ inactivates gene expression
Levels of defects (mutations)
developmental; subcellular; direct cell/ cell interactions; soluble ligand defects
Type of developmental defect
cell migration
Subcellular defect
organellar; cytoskeleton; signaling defect; plasma membrane associated defects (receptors; cytoskeleton/ extracellular matrix interface)
Chromatin is what
DNA + histones
Packing & level of expression of heterochromatin vs euchromatin
Heterochromatin is more tightly packed & less actively expressed
What passes through nuclear pores
Small molecules-> diffuse freely
Large macromolecules-> transport regulated
What is the nuclear lamina
nuclear cytoskeleton (scaffolding)
What species have nuclei in RBCs
birds, reptiles, & fish
Nucleated RBCs in mammals can be a sign of what
infection
Nucleolus are one or more dense compartments w/in the nucleus that are the site of
ribosomal RNA transciption & assembly of ribosomal proteins
Describe cause of primary lens luxation
splicing mutation causes early termination during translation; protein important for maintenance of fibers is not correctly made; breakdown of fibers that holds lens in place
Point mutation in what gene causes primary lens luxation in dogs
ADAMTS17; dysfunctional protease results
Proteases play important roles in what
development & maintenance of extraceullar matrix
Dysfunctional protease ADAMTS17 results in what
failure to maintain fibers that hold the lens in place
Ribosomes are called what
translation machines
Synonymous mutation results in
same AA being added
Non-synonymous mutation results in
incorrect AA being added
Single base-pair deletion results in
frameshift mutation- catastrophic
Lens luxation genetic background
autosomal recessive; does not appear until 3 years of age
Primary lens luxation frameshift mutation occurs how
G to A mutation in intron of ADAMTS17 gene causes a splcing error that results in skipping exon 10
Subunit for prokaryotic ribosome
70S = 50S + 30S
Subunit for eukaryotic ribosome
80S = 60S + 40S
Many antibiotics are used to inhibit protein synthesis b/c
prokaryotic ribosomes are sensitive & eukaryotic ribosome are insensitive