questions from textbook Flashcards
name and describe the centres located in the medulla oblongata
respiratory- controls the rate and depth of breathing
cardiac centre- regulates the rate and force of the heartbeat
vasometer centre- regulates the diameter of blood vessels
what structures make up the peripheral nervous system
nerve fibres that carry information to and from the CNS
groups of nerve cell bodies, called ganglia, which lie outside the brain and spinal cord
what are mixed nerves
Mixed nerves are nerves that contain both sensory and motor fibers within a single nerve bundle.
what is the dorsal root?
one of the two roots that link a spinal nerve to the spinal cord: located towards the back of the body and contains axons of sensory neurons
what is the dorsal root ganglia
a group of nerve cell bodies located in the dorsal root of a spinal nerve
what is the ventral root
one of the two roots that link a spinal nerve to the spinal cord: located towards the front of the body and contains axons of motor neurons
set point
in a feedback system, the level at which a variable is to be maintained
tolerance limit
the limit of factors such as temperature and fluid balance beyond which the body malfunctions
what is glycogenesis
the process whereby glucose molecules are chemically combined in long chains to form glycogen molecules
glycogenolysis
the process of converting glycogen back to glucose
gluconeogenesis
the process of producing glucose molecules from lipids and amino acids
what are the hormones secreted from the adrenal glands
adrenal cortex- glucocorticoids (cortisol)
adrenal medulla- adrenaline and noradrenaline
what do glucocorticoids (cortisol) do
stimulate the conversion of glycogen into glucose in the liver
stimulate protein breakdown in muscles and conversion of amino acids into glucose in the liver
what do adrenaline and noradrenaline do
stimulate the breakdown of glycogen in the liver and release of glucose into the blood
what is metabolic rate
the rate at which energy is released to the body by the breakdown of food
why is the skin such an important organ in regulating body temperature
because it is a large surface area and is located between the internal and external environment. heat can also be lost from the skin by conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation
other than sweating, what other modes of evaporation occur in the body
water that is evaporated from the lungs and respiratory passage
which is more dangerous- heat stroke or heat exhaustion, explain why
heat stroke is more dangerous because when temperature and humidity are high, it is difficult for the body to lose heat by radiation or evaporation. in this case, body temperature rises and the regulatory mechanisms cease.
what is recombinant DNA technology
the procedure used to produce recombinant DNA. involves introducing DNA into a cell from a different type of organism or DNA that has been modified in some way.
what is a GMO
an organism produced by genetic engineering
what is a plasmid
in a bacterial cell, small circular strands of DNA distinct from the main bacterial genome, composed of only a few genes and able to replicate independently within the cells
what is a vector
a bacterial plasmid, viral phage or other such agent used to transfer genetic material from one cell to another.
draw and label DNA
check book
DNA ligase
an enzyme capable of combining two small components of single-strand DNA into one single structure.
explain why it is possible for an organism of one species to use a gene from another species to produce a protein
because the genetic code is universal across all living organisms. This means that the same genetic code is used by all living things to convert the information in DNA into the sequence of amino acids that make up proteins.
For example, the codon AUG codes for the amino acid methionine in all living organisms, from bacteria to humans.
explain the importance of complementary bases with respect to inserting a fragment of DNA into a vector
it ensures that the fragment is inserted in the correct orientation and location within the vector, allowing for proper functioning and expression of the transferred genetic material.
the vector is cut with a restriction enzyme, creating a sticky end with a specific sequence of nucleotides, and the foreign DNA fragment is cut with the same enzyme, resulting in a complementary sticky end.
what does dorsal mean
back
what does ventral mean
front
explain how a decrease in the thyroid gland will cause unexplained weight gain
Insulin resistance means the patient is still producing insulin, but their body cells are not responding to it
Glucose remains in the blood and is either converted into fat/ lipogenesis is stimulated
the glucose is excreted from the urine
results in less energy expenditure / a decrease in cellular respiration
explain how a decrease in the thyroid gland will cause fatigue
Thyroxine regulates basal metabolic rate
Without a thyroid gland, the basal metabolic rate decreases
the patient has less energy / ATP available
explain how a decrease in the thyroid gland will cause an intolerance to cold
Heat energy is released from some of the chemical reactions stimulated by thyroxine
The decrease in thyroxine / basal metabolic rate result in a reduction of body heat
explain some of the side effects that synthetic hormones produce
not identical to normal (human) hormones. they can have a slight difference in molecules structure
can be difficult to administer correct dose for individuals
where is the cerebrospinal fluid found in the brian
a space between the middle and inner layers of the meninges. it also circulates through cavities in the brain
what are bactericidal
change the structure of the cell wall/membrane/disrupt action of essential enzymes/disrupt metabolic pathways
destroy the pathogen
what are bacteriostatic
prevent reproduction/inhibit growth
disrupting protein synthesis
Describe the steps involved in producing the functioning bacterial cell that can be used to make synthetic insulin.
Cut out required gene using restriction enzyme
Bacterial plasmid/DNA removed from bacterial cell
Bacterial plasmid/DNA cut with the same restriction enzyme
Gene (for human insulin) inserted into bacterial plasmid/DNA
Recombinant plasmid is inserted into a bacterial cell
