Exam 3: Studies

Question 1

Beadle and Tatum

Answer 1

• Developed a method for isolating auxotrophic (prevented from creating something they NEED to survive) mutants in Neurospora (spores, induced mutations to see the impact)
• TUBES!!!
• WHAT? To explain why the individuals with mutations died
• ARGININE was the only one that survived, able to determine WHAT the mutation was
• Determine type of mutation induced
• could be done for any amino acids, would only survive on the medium that had that specific amino acids

Question 2

Flowering in Arabidopsis, controlled by FLD

Answer 2

FLD: gene that encodes a deacetylase enzyme (removes activator of a repressor)

Question 3

Alternative Splicing controls sex determination in Drosophilia

Question 4

Ames Test

Answer 4

• used to detect mutations
• bacteria cannot make histidine on their own (auxotrophic)
• START with mutant, placed in minimal media (i.e. liver enzymes), placed without histidine after it mixes, NO CHEMICAL FORMED, CONTROL
• mutant mixed with chemical, placed withOUT histidine, chemical added
• mutated the mutant back to the wild type
• mutants formed by these chemicals (mutagenic chemical)
• example of REVERSE MUTATION (mutant back to wild type)