Lecture 30 - Epigenetics I

Question 1

What is the thrifty phenotype theory?

L30 S7

Answer 1

If a parent experiences a food shortage, their offspring are more likely to eat as much as possible, minimize energy expenditure, and conserve calories

Question 2

How are DNA methylation patterns passed on to replicated strands of DNA?

L30 S28

Answer 2

CpG islands on the parent strand that are methylated signal that their pair on the new strand should be methylated

Question 3

What is paramutation?

L30 S31

Answer 3

When an allele causes an epigenetic alteration to the other allele of that gene.

Homozygous dominant, purple corn, when crossed with homozygous recessive, green corn becomes green because the recessive gene causes and epigenetic modification to the dominant purple corn allele.

Question 4

What is significant about the Kit gene in mice?

L30 S33

Answer 4

Example of paramutation.

When a homozygous dominant mouse is crossed with a heterozygous mouse the offspring that are heterozygous express the heterozygous phenotype but some of the homozygous do as well.

The dominant allele from the heterozygous parent was epigenetically altered.