Mutations and Gene Expression Flashcards
define stem cells?
cells that can divide and differentiate to become diff types of cell
totipotent stem cells
can divide and differentiate into any type of specialised cell
- very early mammalian embryos
- can form placenta cells
pluripotent stem cells
can differentiate into MANY types of specialised cell
- embryo and adult cells
- cant make placenta cells
multipotent stem cells
can differentiate into FEW types of specialised cell
unipotent stem cells
can differentiate into ONE type of specialised cell
what can a change in the internal enviro do?
affect expression of genes
cells = specialised (cant be reversed)
conditions within cells control what?
which genes expressed (transcribed and translated)
into proteins
what does RNAi do?
control gene expression by preventing translation
what is siRNA?
- small interfering RNA
- short stranded RNA
- combines with proteins to = siRNA-protein complex
what does siRNA do?
- siRNA = single stranded
- has complementary base sequence to target mRNA
- siRNA-protein complex breaks down mRNA into pieces
- prevents translation
- mRNA pieces recycled
what does microRNA do?
- combines with protein = microRNA-protein complex
- binds to mRNA by comp base pairing
- less specific than siRNA - works on more than one mRNA
- prevents translation - prevents ribosome attaching
- mRNA stored / recycled
what are transcription factors
proteins that control the rate of protein synthesis by switching some genes on and other genes off
what are promoter regions
short sequence of DNA at start of gene
how transcription factors work?
- TF move from cytoplasm to nucleus
- binds to promoter region
- activators - help RNA polymerase bind to gene (TRANSCRIBED)
- repressors - prevent RNA polymerase binding to gene (NOT TRANSCRIBED)
what can transcription factors also be turned on / off by?
second messenger
cAMP
controlling TF
oestrogen example
- oestrogen = steroid hormone
- binds to receptor called oestrogen complex
- forms oestrogen-oestrogen complex
define epigenetics?
changes to gene expression caused by enviro factors ( without changing base sequence of DNA)
what does epigenetics do?
- controls gene expression by preventing transcription
- can be inherited between gen
- helps organisms respond to changes in enviro
More Methylation =
Terminates Transcription
what are CpG sites
where C and G next to each other in DNA
what do methylated CpG sites prevent?
transcription enzymes attaching (RNA polym)
transcription prevented
less acetylation of histones =
Terminates Transcription