Intro to Molecular Cell Biology

Question 1

Define Molecular Biology

Answer 1

Study of the molecules of the cell

Question 2

Cell Biology

Answer 2

Study of how cells and their molecules function

Question 3

Relevance of MCB to medicine

Answer 3

To understand the function of the body in health and disease you must understand how cells function

Question 4

What change at the molecular/cellular level causes cancer

Answer 4

DNA mutation

Question 5

What change at the molecular/cellular level causes Alzheimer’s

Answer 5

Protein misfolding

Question 6

What change at the molecular/cellular level is involved in infectious diseases

Answer 6

Recognition of the pathogen by receptors on immune cells

Question 7

What change at the molecular/cellular level is involved in autoimmune diseases

Answer 7

Overproduction of inflammatory factors through immune cell signalling

Question 8

How can MCB benefit patients?

Answer 8

MCB allows us to use biomarkers, translational research and personalised/stratified medicine

Question 9

Biomarker

Answer 9

A naturally occurring molecule, gene or characteristic by which a particular pathological or physiological process or a disease can be identifed

Question 10

Translational research

Answer 10

Translates findings in fundamental scientific research into medical practice and meaningful health outcomes

Question 11

Stratified medicine

Answer 11

identification of subgroups of patients with distinct mechanisms of disease or particular responses to treatments, allowing us to develop treatments that are effective for particular groups of patients

Question 12

Personalised medicine

Answer 12

Medical decisions, practices, interventions and products being tailored to the individual patient

Question 13

Efficacy (of a treatment)

Answer 13

The ability, especially of a medicine or method, to produce the intended result

Question 14

Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF)

Answer 14

A cell-signalling protein (a cytokine) involved in systemic inflammation

Question 15

Interleukin-1 (IL-1)

Answer 15

A pro-inflammatory cytokine that can induce inflammation and fever

Question 16

C-Reactive Protein

Answer 16

Used as a measure of inflammation. If patient has inflammation, they have a high CRP content in blood

Question 17

Anti Citrillunated Peptide Antibody

Answer 17

Used as an indicator for diagnosisn with rheumatoid arthritis

Question 18

Uses of biomarkers clinically

Answer 18

Diagnoses, monitor disease progression, prognoses (high/low risk), predict response to treatment

Question 19

How does rheumatoid arthritis arise and who does it affect

Answer 19

Immune system causes destruction of joints and this especially affects the hands, and women.

Question 20

Why do we need stratified medicine?

Answer 20

Even if people have same diagnosis, they are not the same e.g. epigenetically so certain treatments may be more effective on certain people in the group than others

Question 21

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)

Answer 21

Rare inherited diseases where children are born with defective immune systems due to a gene mutation. Treated using stem cells from bone marrow