Module 1

Question 1

What’s the difference in how eukaryotes and prokaryotes store genetic information?

Answer 1

The nucleus is where eukaryotes store their genetic information. In prokaryotes, DNA is bundled together in the nucleoid region, but it is not stored within a membrane-bound nucleus.

Question 2

What is the biggest difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

Answer 2

Eukaryotes have a membrane bound nucleus while prokaryotes do not.

Question 3

What 4 features do prokaryotes and eukaryotes share?

Answer 3

DNA, Plasma membrane, Cytoplasm, Ribosomes

Question 4

What is the difference between magnification and resolution?

Answer 4

Magnification is the ability to make small objects seem larger, such as making a microscopic organism visible. Resolution is the ability to distinguish two objects from each other.

Question 5

Why do we use fluorescent microscopes?

Answer 5

highly sensitive, specificity (ability to specifically label molecules and structures of interest), and simplicity

Question 6

What to methods are used to prepare a sample for use in a fluorescent microscope?

Answer 6

Genetically encoded proteins.

Tagging proteins with antibodies.

Question 7

What is the process of genetically encoding proteins?

Answer 7

A gene that encodes a glowing protein is inserted into the genome of your model organism of interest.

Question 8

What are the pros/ cons of genetically encoding proteins?

Answer 8

Pros:
•All of the progeny will have the marker, you only have to do it once
•You can look at tissues in live animals/cells to watch things move around in real time
Cons:
•It takes a long time
•It can cause an over expression of the protein (which leads to mislocalization)

Question 9

What are the pros/cons of tagging proteins with antibodies

Answer 9

Pros:
•Gives an accurate measurement of the concentrations of your protein of interest
Cons:
•No live imaging
•It is difficult and time consuming to produce and validate antibodies.
•Antibody staining can be non-specific
•Signal can be hard to see

Question 10

Why would you use an electron microscope?

Answer 10

To look at the structures INSIDE a cell such as organelles or membrane structures.

Question 11

What are the pros/cons of an electron microscope?

Answer 11

Pros: 
•Magnification up to 50,000,000x
•Resolution up to 0.0002uM  (that is enough to look at single atoms!)
Cons: 
•Expensive and technical
•Highly detailed sample preparation

Question 12

How is an electron microscope different from a light microscope?

Answer 12

An electron microscope utilises electron beams to enlarge an object while a light microscope uses light rays to magnify any object.