Lecture 1 - Differential intro

Question 1

What is the function of the nucleus and axonal terminals in a neuron?

Answer 1

Nucleus - contains all DNA, master controller of protein production
Axonal terminals - release chemicals

Question 2

What are five presynaptic ways to affect neuronal signal transmission?

Answer 2

Release more transmitter
Deplete transmitter stores
More effective vesicle fusion
Reuptake transporter changes
Autoreceptor changes

Question 3

What are four postsynaptic ways to affect neuronal signal transmission?

Answer 3

More receptors (near membrane)
More effective receptors
Affect one step in many-step signalling cascade
Affect messenger from postsynaptic neuron to presynaptic neuron

Question 4

How does an oxytocin receptor gene get expressed?

Answer 4

• A gene is a strand of DNA. Classically, a gene codes for a protein.
• e.g. oxytocin receptor gene codes for the oxytocin receptor, present in many neurons in the brain
• That gene is a strand of DNA, which gets transcribed into mRNA.
• That mRNA gets translated into a particular protein, the Oxytocin Receptor. The oxytocin receptor protein will be transferred to the receiving part of the neuron.
• That receptor is ONE of many proteins that will determine the response to the neuropeptide Oxytocin.

Question 5

What do polymorphisms result from?

Answer 5

Mutations

Question 6

What is a risk allele?

Answer 6

Version of a gene associated with a higher risk for something

Question 7

What comprise the most common form of genetic differences between people?

Answer 7

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (often called SNPs)
a - t
g - c
One nucleotide is different from normal matching pairs