Techniques

Question 1

The Central Dogma

Answer 1

Replication, transcription, and translation

Question 2

Next generation sequencing steps

Answer 2

Fragmentation into genes. Tagging to help sequence and help with amplification. Amplification to get many reads. And sequencing using fluorescent tags that bind to genes.

Question 3

Why would we want to sequence RNA?

Answer 3

Measure gene expression

Question 4

Bulk RNA-seq

Answer 4

Measures the average gene expression across a population of cells

Question 5

Single-cell RNA-seq

Answer 5

Measures gene expression in individual cells

Question 6

CRISPR

Answer 6

DNA sequences found in prokaryotic organisms — defense against viral infection

Question 7

Cas

Answer 7

Enzyme that cleaves DNA

Question 8

How can CRISPR be used

Answer 8

1. Edit genes (insertion, deletion, knockout)
2. Modify transcription
3. Incorporate fluorescence to visualize structure of genom

Question 9

scRNA Seq

Answer 9

Isolate single cells and tag the transcripts inside of them, involves conversion to cDNA

Question 10

Guide RNA

Answer 10

• a crRNA contains a nucleotide sequence complementary to the target DNA called spacer
• a tracer RNA, a binding scaffhold for Cas nuclease

Question 11

Intracellular electrode recording

Answer 11

A method in which a sharp
pipette is inserted into the cell to measure intracellular voltage relative to the “ground” outside the cell

Question 12

Patch-clamp recording

Answer 12

A method that lets us measure the current flowing through a single ion channel or the entire cell. Variations of this method allow us to test the effect of different extracelular and intracelular conditions.

Question 13

Extracellular electrode recording

Answer 13

A method in which an electrode inserted into living tissue measures electrical activity from neighboring neurons.

Question 14

Multichannel extracellular recording

Answer 14

Measures electrical activity from a population of cells

Question 15

Electrocorticography

Answer 15

Measures electrical activity from the cortical surface

Question 16

Electroencephalography
(EEG)

Answer 16

A method that allows recording from the scalp surface

Question 17

Computerized tomography (CT) or computerized axial tomography (CAT):

Answer 17

A technique that uses computers and X-rays to produce images inside the body

Question 18

Positron emission tomography

Answer 18

Nuclear imaging technique that generates a 3d functional representation of the brain

Question 19

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI):

Answer 19

Use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to analyze structural and functional differences within the brain

Question 20

Functional neuroimaging

Answer 20

Non-invasive techniques measure relative metabolic activity across different regions of the brain as a proxy for neuronal activity

Question 21

Hemodynamic response

Answer 21

Active delivery of blood to active neurons

Question 22

The blood oxygen leveldependent (BOLD) effect

Answer 22

oxygenated blood has a much stronger magnetic resonance signal than deoxygenated blood

Question 23

• Diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI)

Answer 23

An MRI technique that measures the diffusion of water within neurons to identify neural pathways

Question 24

Light microscopes

Answer 24

These microscopes use light to illuminate objects of interest. They have a resolution of 0.25 to 0.3 micrometers. They can observe live specimens and depict color.

Question 25

Electron microscopes

Answer 25

These microscopes use electron beams to illuminate objects of interest. They have a resolution of 0.001 micrometers or 1 nanometer. This method cannot depict color and the specimen must be dead.

Question 26

Correlated Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM)

Answer 26

Light microscopes are used to observe synaptic activity in vivo. Then, electron microscopy elucidated these results with finer, structural details.

Question 27

Expansion Microscopy (ExM)

Answer 27

A polymer system expands biological structures to aid in their identification

Question 28

CLARITY

Answer 28

The transformation of intact tissue into a nanoporous hydrogel hybredized form which is structurally intact but macromolecule permeable. Lipids are removed, allowing for clearer imaging