lecture 1

Question 1

What does ploidy mean? Uniploid? polyploid?

Answer 1

number of chromosomes in nucleus

poly= more than one

Question 2

Chromosome

Answer 2

combination of dna and associated proteins found in organism

Question 3

What is a gene

Answer 3

-functional unit of hereditary
-the entire dna sequence needed for the synthesis of RNA molecule into a functional polypetide

Question 4

What is gene expression

Answer 4

process of converting info in gene to a observable thing

Question 5

Mutation?

Answer 5

Transmissible permanent change in nucleotide sequence of a chromosome- often in a gene, can change its function

Question 6

Genome

Answer 6

all genes carried by a single gamete (sex cell)
-complete set of genetic info

Question 7

Mutant?

Answer 7

an organism that has the mutant gene that expresses itself in phenotype (so its observable)

Question 8

Genotype

Answer 8

genetic makeup of an organism
represents the alleles an organism has inherited

Question 9

Phenotype

Answer 9

Physical appearance of an organism due to its genotype and environemnt

Question 10

Alleles

Answer 10

alternate forms of a single gene. They may differ by as little as a single base

Question 11

Why is it important to understand gene expression?

Answer 11

Proteins and RNA are the final products of gene expression

DNA (gene- stores genetic info) —> Protein (functionality, performance)

mutations and regulatory mistakes in this process could be detrimental oto development and survival of organism

Question 12

What are some products of gene expression, ones in brackets are rnas rest are more proteins

Answer 12

Structural proteins ; actin, collagen
Hormones: insulin
transporters : glucose transporter (tRNA)
Antibodies
Enzymes: metabolism and energy production (RNA, ribozymes)
Regulators: in regulation, transciription, (MANY RNA)

Question 13

What can genes be linked to?

Answer 13

Disease (ex heart disease)
Obesity
Cancer
Mate Selection
Sexual Behaviour
Addiction
Aggression
Shyness
Suicide
Generosity
Ethnicity (geneitc testing)

Question is if these links are predisposition, vs destiny correlation vs causation

Question 14

How do we approach studying gene expression and function/ performance of certain proteins

Answer 14

1) Biochemical Approach: start from the protein (which is isolated by its function or activity) and go towards DNA (so essentially move backwards)

2) Genetic approach: start from the gene (DNA) which can be normal or mutated and go towards the production of protein (normal or mutated) so moving forwards

Both Bioinformatics and recombinant dna technology is used for this

Question 15

Biochemical approach vs genetic approach

Answer 15

Biochem : protein to gene
Genetic: gene to protein

Question 16

Biochemical Approach

Answer 16

-Isolate and purify the protein of interest based on FUNCTION or ACTIVITY

-Protein activity could be analyzed in different conditions

-Use the amino acid sequence to determine the nucleotide sequnce of the genes

Question 17

Genetic approach

Answer 17

Through identifying and isolating mutants

How do u identify mutants?
-genetic screens
-essential genes nad proteins
-necessart for survival

Conditional lethal mutations:
permissive or non permissive conditions
information?

Question 18

What does the genetic approach enable us to get answers to?

Answer 18

1)What is the potential function of the protein? -throuhg isolation, survival of mutatnt
2)how many genees are involved in gertain processes
3)What is the order of these genes in the process? -by applying genetic approach called Complementation analysis
4) What are the interactions between different genes? by using genetical approach called Genetic Suppression