Lecture 2

Question 1

Identify the components of the nucleus and discuss the role of each:

Answer 1

1. Nucleus: a compartment for storing and managing the genetic information
2. Nucleolus: It is the site for synthesizing and assembling ribosomes.
3. Chromatin: The DNA is organized in the nucleus to form chromatin. It also contains proteins, the main proteins being histones, and further condenses to form chromosomes.
4. Nuclear Envelope: separates the inner contents of the nucleus from the rest of the cell.

Question 2

What is homeostasis?

Answer 2

State of equilibrium within a living organism

Question 3

Why is it important that we know what normal is like?

Answer 3

By understanding what “normal” homeostasis looks like, we can better diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases, ensuring that the body’s internal environment remains balanced and functioning optimally

Question 4

What is the Hierarchical Organization of the Body? How does this concept help us understand disease?

Answer 4

Is a way of understanding how different levels of biological complexity are structured and interact to maintain overall function. This organization helps us see how diseases can affect the body at various levels. Can better understand the complexity of diseases and develop more effective treatment strategies that address problems at the appropriate level

Question 5

How do properties at one level of the hierarchy pyramid inform higher-level functions?

Answer 5

Demonstrates how lower level of the hierarchy influence functions at higher levels

Question 6

Discuss the features of nuclear morphology that were presented and explain how these features can provide you with useful information about the cells, tissue or species in a sample

Answer 6

Nuclear morphology provides a rate of cell division. That rate varies through cell differentiation and by species.

Question 7

Compare and contrast DNA replication and gene expression, including the proteins involved in each process

Answer 7

DNA replication is semi-conservative; each daughter DNA molecule is composed of 1 parent strand and one newly synthesized strand.
It involves a suite of enzymes: helicase, topoisomerase, and polymerase (5’ to 3’).

Question 8

Discuss the consequences of impaired DNA replication or gene expression.

Answer 8

Mutations can cause diseases.

Question 9

Explain how mutations can lead to errors in RNA splicing and how this in turn can result in disease

Answer 9

Parts of the introns are included in exins. Parts of the exons are prematurely cut leading to wrong protein formation or introns get included leading to different types of mutation in the protein gene

Question 10

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Answer 10

stores genetic information through a simple chemical code

Question 11

Heterochromatin

Answer 11

is more tightly packed and less actively expressed than euchromatin