Lect 31

Question 1

What are the three main complexities of plants?

Answer 1

Metabolism, Development, Responses to the environment

These complexities highlight the intricate processes that enable plants to survive and adapt.

Question 2

What is the primary process through which plants convert carbon dioxide into sugars?

Answer 2

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis uses sunlight as energy to convert carbon dioxide into simple sugars.

Question 3

What do simple sugars act as in the process of photosynthesis?

Answer 3

Basic carbon skeletons

These sugars form the foundation for synthesizing more complex molecules.

Question 4

What byproduct do plants release during photosynthesis?

Answer 4

Oxygen

Oxygen is released as a byproduct of photosynthesis.

Question 5

What is the role of ATP in plants?

Answer 5

Provides energy

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is generated from sugars during respiration.

Question 6

What process do plants use to build a wide range of molecules?

Answer 6

Biosynthesis

Biosynthesis involves using energy from ATP to synthesize proteins, lipids, and secondary metabolites.

Question 7

Fill in the blank: During photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide into _______.

Answer 7

Simple sugars

These sugars are essential for energy and molecule synthesis.

Question 8

What types of molecules do plants synthesize during biosynthesis?

Answer 8

Proteins, lipids, secondary metabolites

Secondary metabolites include scents and flavors.

Question 9

True or False: Plants only produce simple sugars during photosynthesis.

Answer 9

False

Plants also release oxygen and use sugars for respiration and biosynthesis.

Question 10

Explain developmentally complex structures in plants

Answer 10

Developmentally complex structures in plants, we’re referring to how plants control gene expression to produce specific proteins that contribute to the formation of complex tissues and structures like flowers

Question 11

Why do plants need to optimize growth?

Answer 11

To maximize light capture for photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is essential for plants to produce energy.

Question 12

What do plants need to protect against?

Answer 12

Environmental abuses

Environmental abuses can include factors like drought, extreme temperatures, and pests.

Question 13

Plants are considered sedentary. True or False?

Answer 13

True

This means they cannot move from one place to another and must adapt to their environment.

Question 14

Explain the complexity in responses of the plants to the environment

Answer 14

Complexity in responses to the environment:
plants are sedentary:
• Need to optimise growth to maximise light capture for photosynthesis
• Need to protect against environmental abuses

Question 15

Plants are sedentary, what do plants need to cope with to survive?

Answer 15

They need to cope with diverse environmental stresses

Environmental stresses can include factors like drought, salinity, and temperature extremes.

Question 16

What is a characteristic of plants in relation to their movement?

Answer 16

Being sedentary

Plants do not move from place to place like animals but must adapt to their environment.

Question 17

What underpins the complexity of plants?

Answer 17

Genetic information

This refers to the molecular basis of plant biology, including how genes contribute to various traits and functions.

Question 18

What are the genetic information in plants?

Answer 18

Genes and their encoded proteins

Genes are segments of DNA that encode for proteins, which perform various functions in plant cells.

Question 19

What is gene expression?

Answer 19

The process by which the genetic information in a gene is used to produce the corresponding protein in a cell.

Question 20

What is the first step of gene expression?

Answer 20

The gene is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) in the nucleus.

Question 21

What does mRNA carry?

Answer 21

The genetic code for protein production.

Question 22

Where does mRNA move after being transcribed?

Answer 22

To the cytoplasm.

Question 23

What is the function of ribosomes in gene expression?

Answer 23

To translate mRNA into a protein.

Question 24

Fill in the blank: The gene is transcribed into _______ in the nucleus.

Answer 24

messenger RNA (mRNA)

Question 25

True or False: The mRNA is produced in the cytoplasm.

Answer 25

False

Question 26

Fill in the blank: Ribosomes are responsible for translating _______ into a protein.

Answer 26

mRNA

Question 27

How many different proteins do the genes in an average plant encode?

Answer 27

Approx. 35-40,000 different proteins

Question 28

What is the function of enzymes in plants?

Answer 28

Responsible for biosynthesis complexity

Question 29

What role do electron carriers play in plants?

Answer 29

Involved in photosynthetic electron transport

Question 30

What do ion channels do in plant cells?

Answer 30

Transport ions into or out of cells

Question 31

What is the function of structural components in plants?

Answer 31

Provide structure

Question 32

Why are receptors important for plants?

Answer 32

Important for perceiving the environment

Question 33

What do transcription factors regulate in plants?

Answer 33

Regulate the transcription of genes and control gene expression

Question 34

What are examples of proteins that are highly conserved among different species?

Answer 34

Photosynthetic components ## Footnote These proteins perform similar functions across various organisms.

Question 35

What are examples of proteins that are unique to particular species?

Answer 35

Ricin, thaumatin ## Footnote These proteins have specific functions that may not be found in other species.

Question 36

What effect does ricin have on protein synthesis?

Answer 36

Inhibits translation, stopping protein synthesis ## Footnote This leads to a halt in the production of essential proteins.

Question 37

What enables different cells in an individual plant to carry out their functions?

Answer 37

Different complements of proteins

Question 38

True or False: All cells in an individual plant have the same complement of proteins.

Answer 38

False

Question 39

Fill in the blank: Different cells in an individual plant have different complements of _______ to enable them to carry out their functions.

Answer 39

proteins

Question 40

What does each cell in an individual plant contain?

Answer 40

The genetic information needed to produce the whole plant

Question 41

What is differential gene expression?

Answer 41

Only a fraction of the genetic information present in a particular cell is expressed at any one time. ## Footnote This concept highlights the selective expression of genes based on cell type and environmental conditions.

Question 42

What is constitutive gene expression?

Answer 42

Expression in all cells all the time. ## Footnote These are usually proteins responsible for housekeeping functions.

Question 43

True or False: Constitutive gene expression occurs only in specific cells.

Answer 43

False ## Footnote Constitutive gene expression is present in all cells at all times.

Question 44

Fill in the blank: Differential gene expression means that only a _______ of the genetic information present in a particular cell is expressed at any one time.

Answer 44

fraction ## Footnote This emphasizes that not all genes are active in every cell.

Question 45

What type of proteins are typically associated with constitutive gene expression?

Answer 45

Proteins responsible for housekeeping functions. ## Footnote These proteins are essential for maintaining basic cellular functions.

Question 46

How many genes does the average higher plant have?

Answer 46

About 25-30,000 genes.

Question 47

What are spatial differences in gene expression?

Answer 47

Genes are expressed in specific cells or tissues within the plant.

Question 48

What does temporal gene expression mean?

Answer 48

Gene expression is switched on at particular times in a particular cell type.

Question 49

How do environmental factors influence gene expression in plants?

Answer 49

Plants adjust gene expression in response to environmental factors like light.

Question 50

What do we need to understand how plants grow and develop?

Answer 50

Identify the functions of all the different genes and determine how their expression is controlled

Question 51

What is one method to study gene expression?

Answer 51

Look at proteins using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis ## Footnote 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis separates proteins based on size and charge.

Question 52

What does 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis separate proteins based on?

Answer 52

Size and charge

Question 53

What is a limitation of 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis?

Answer 53

Some abundant proteins may not show up clearly

Question 54

What technique is used to detect specific mRNAs?

Answer 54

Transcriptome sequencing

Question 55

What is the process involved in transcriptome sequencing?

Answer 55

RNA population converted to cDNA copies and sequenced

Question 56

What can be monitored using software in transcriptome sequencing?

Answer 56

Abundance of thousands of different transcripts

Question 57

What can be analyzed in different tissues, at different times, and in response to various treatments?

Answer 57

Transcripts

Question 58

What is the purpose of using reporter genes?

Answer 58

Visualise transcription

Question 59

List two characteristics of reporter genes.

Answer 59

* Easy to assay * Not usually expressed in plants

Question 60

What happens when a transgenic plant is placed in a colourless substrate with Bacterial B-glucuronidase?

Answer 60

The enzyme converts the colourless liquid to blue

Question 61

What is a promoter?

Answer 61

A region of DNA that initiates the transcription of a gene by providing a binding site for RNA polymerase and other factors, controlling whether the gene is expressed.

Question 62

What does a promoter control?

Answer 62

Whether a gene is expressed.

Question 63

What does CAB stand for?

Answer 63

Chlorophyll a/b-binding protein ## Footnote CAB proteins play a crucial role in photosynthesis by binding chlorophyll.

Question 64

In which type of cells are CAB proteins expressed?

Answer 64

Chloroplast-containing cells ## Footnote These cells are primarily found in green plants and algae.

Question 65

What is the primary function of CAB proteins?

Answer 65

To bind chlorophyll a and b ## Footnote This binding is essential for light absorption in photosynthesis.

Question 66

True or False: CAB proteins are expressed in all types of cells.

Answer 66

False ## Footnote CAB proteins are specifically expressed in chloroplast-containing cells.

Question 67

Fill in the blank: CAB proteins are involved in _______.

Answer 67

photosynthesis ## Footnote They facilitate the capture of light energy needed for photosynthesis.

Question 68

What is stimulated by light?

Answer 68

CAB expression ## Footnote CAB stands for Chlorophyll a/b binding proteins, which play a role in photosynthesis.

Question 69

What are TOUCH-INDUCED GENES?

Answer 69

Genes that are expressed rapidly after mechanical stimulation ## Footnote These genes play a crucial role in the response to physical touch or pressure.