1. Often the physical characteristics of genetically identical twins become increasingly different as they age, even at a molecular level. Explain why this is so.
The environment a person in can influence their epigenome. The video spoke about how identical twins are very similar at birth, but then as their individual environment changes they become more unique. It showed how different the twins became from eachother. Different factors influencenced the twin's epigenome. The twins unique habbits further differentiated them. Specific habbits like smoking and exercising can especially affect the epigenome.
2. Name 3-4 environmental factors that influence the epigenome.
A major factor that would affect the epigenome would be smoking or even second hand smoke. Smoking has a very negative impact on the epigenome while something like excercising has a very positive impact on the epigenome. As you could imagine, food has a great deal of influence on your epigenome because you are putting it into your every day. The decisions you make when you eat have a very large impact on your epigenome. Other things that can have an impact on your epigenome are stress, your home life and even the people you are around.
3. What is an imprinting gene?
Imprinted genes are genes whos expressions were determined by their parent gene.
Discuss factors in your daily life that could be affecting your epigenome.
By far, the largest factor in my daily life that affects my epigenome is stress, specifically ones related to school. The huge ammounts of homework from a majority of my classes, the tests at the end of every week, the quizzes every day in my classes, and a project every week in DLC keeps my stress level extremely high. At home I have a relatively healthy diet. We rarely, if ever eat fast food or even eat out. The only time I eat unhealthily is at school because of the lunches they serve. I also have PE every day where I run a quarter mile every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; run a mile every Wednesday; and run a half mile every Friday plus all the activities we do.
Lick your Rats:
1. Explain how a high-nurturing mother rat shapes her pup's epigenome, and what that
pup's response to stress will be.
One of the jobs in the hippocampus of the brain is to relieve stress. How the pup was nurtured affects how much GR is produced (more GR is better). Cortisol, a hormone put into the blood system durnig fight or flight, binds together with the GR to send calming signals to the pup. The more the rat is nurtured by its mother, the quicker it will be able to recover from stress.
2. In rats, does licking by the mother activate, or deactivate her pup's GR gene?
The mother's licking will activate the pup's GR gene.
3. Explain how cortisol and the GR protein work together in the brain to relax a rat pup.
You may draw a diagram.
Refer to question number 1s answer.
4. The rat nurturing example shows us how parental behavior can shape the behavior of their offspring on a biochemical level. Relate this to humans and think about the personal and social implications.
Loving a child is like nurturing a rat. If a rat is nurtured and cared for, that can be the same thing as loving, praising, and teaching a child to do good in life. This shapes the way they will be when they are older. If the child had a good childhood, they will be nicer people but if not then they could turn out to be less kind.
Nutrition & The Epigenome
Explain how the food we eat affects gene expression.
"Familiar nutrients like folic acid, B vitamins and SAM-e [S-Adenosyl methionine, a popular over-the-counter supplement] are key components of this methyl-making pathway. Diets high in these methyl-donating nutrients can rapidly alter gene expression, especially during early development when the epigenome is first being established."
Can the diets of parents affect their offspring's epigenome?
Yes, the food that a mother consumes when there is a baby in the womb is very important. Food eaten when a child in a womb helps deterine how well the baby will form. The way a grand mother or grandfather ate, even in the later years of their lives greatly shortens the lifespan of the grandchildren or even the great grandchildren. Foods eaten by mothers during pregnacy will most likely be appealing flavors, tastes and smells to the child. Mothers who drank or smoke during pregnacy have a greater chance of their child living under the influince of alcahol (alcoholism) and smoking.
Epigenetics & The Human Brain
1. How does Dietary methyl influence gene expression?
The Dietary Methyl influence gene is expression when you have a certain amount of methyl that your body will retain from the nutrients in your food. This food needs to be able to make you healthy. You have a significantly higher chance of becoming obese if you have a methyl-deficient diet.
Why do Toxins affect gene methylation?
The toxins affect the gene methylation by ruining your health. Different chemicals can have different affects. Take the chemical BPA for instance. BPA can cause endocrine problems like obesity, stunted growth, and birth defects.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
DNA Fingerprinting
1. DNA is unique for everyone. The only exception is if a person has what?
The only exception are identical twins because they have the exact same genes and cells.
2. What are DNA fingerprints used for?
DNA fingerprints are used to determine the parents of a child and to identify the suspect in a crime.
3. What "crime" was committed?
An unknown person broke into Jimmy Sweets room. The crime was committed on November 1, at about 8:15. Jimmy's NOVA lollipop was removed from an air-tight bag. Jimmy thinks that it is one of his sisters.
4. What bodily fluid was removed from the "crime scene" to get DNA?
Saliva was removed from the crime scene. They were able to get the saliva because the lollipop was licked.
5. What does a restriction enzyme do?
Restriction enzymes cut DNA strands. The enzymes are influenced by the code within the DNA molecule. The length of the DNA strands vary from person to person.
6. What is agarose gel?
Agarose gel is a very dense liquid when it is hot but then feels like Jello when it is cold. It acts as a strainer to sort the larger and smaller pieces of DNA.
7. What is electrophoresis?
Electrophoresis moves molecules using electric currents. The smaller molecules move faster than the larger ones. Electrophoresis is particularly useful in solving crimes because the suspects' DNA and the evidence will all move, but the ones that moved exactly the same are the match.
8. Smaller fragments of DNA move __________ than longer strands.
Smaller fragments of DNA move faster than longer strands.
9. Why do you need to place a nylon membrane over the gel?
Agarose gel is very flimsy and breakable wich makes it very difficult to work with. They nylon membrane sucks up the DNA so that it can be more easily examined.
10. Probes attach themselves to ___________?
Probes attach themselves to DNA fragments on the nylon membrane.
11. Which chemical in the virtual lab is radioactive?
Probes
12. Sketch your DNA fingerprint.
13. Based on your DNA fingerprint, who licked the lollipop?
Honey Sweet licked the lollipop.
14. What kins of things could you do at the DNA workshop?
I was able to see the replication process in the DNA workshop. I now know how to match up base pairs as well.
The only exception are identical twins because they have the exact same genes and cells.
2. What are DNA fingerprints used for?
DNA fingerprints are used to determine the parents of a child and to identify the suspect in a crime.
3. What "crime" was committed?
An unknown person broke into Jimmy Sweets room. The crime was committed on November 1, at about 8:15. Jimmy's NOVA lollipop was removed from an air-tight bag. Jimmy thinks that it is one of his sisters.
4. What bodily fluid was removed from the "crime scene" to get DNA?
Saliva was removed from the crime scene. They were able to get the saliva because the lollipop was licked.
5. What does a restriction enzyme do?
Restriction enzymes cut DNA strands. The enzymes are influenced by the code within the DNA molecule. The length of the DNA strands vary from person to person.
6. What is agarose gel?
Agarose gel is a very dense liquid when it is hot but then feels like Jello when it is cold. It acts as a strainer to sort the larger and smaller pieces of DNA.
7. What is electrophoresis?
Electrophoresis moves molecules using electric currents. The smaller molecules move faster than the larger ones. Electrophoresis is particularly useful in solving crimes because the suspects' DNA and the evidence will all move, but the ones that moved exactly the same are the match.
8. Smaller fragments of DNA move __________ than longer strands.
Smaller fragments of DNA move faster than longer strands.
9. Why do you need to place a nylon membrane over the gel?
Agarose gel is very flimsy and breakable wich makes it very difficult to work with. They nylon membrane sucks up the DNA so that it can be more easily examined.
10. Probes attach themselves to ___________?
Probes attach themselves to DNA fragments on the nylon membrane.
11. Which chemical in the virtual lab is radioactive?
Probes
12. Sketch your DNA fingerprint.
13. Based on your DNA fingerprint, who licked the lollipop?
Honey Sweet licked the lollipop.
14. What kins of things could you do at the DNA workshop?
I was able to see the replication process in the DNA workshop. I now know how to match up base pairs as well.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Mitosis (PT 3)
View the animation and sketch the cell in:
Prophase The nucleus is in the center of the cell, and the chromosomes are in the middle of the nucleus.
| Metaphase The centrioles are being pulled to the opposite sides. There are also many spindle fibers connected to the centrioles and the chromosomes are in the middle.
| Telophase
The chromosomes are in V shapes and the spindle fibers are connected to the centrioles. |
Mitosis (PT 2)
2. The colored chromosomes represent chromatids. There are two of each color because one is an exact duplicate of the other.
--How many chromosomes are visible at the beginning of mitosis? 8
-- How many are in each daughter cell at the end of mitosis? 4
--The little green T shaped things on the cell are: centrioles
-- What happens to the centrioles during mitosis? They will divide after the DNA replicates.
3 . Identify the stages of these cells:
Metaphase Telophase Prophase
Mitosis (PT 1)
1. Which stage does the following occur
| Chromatin condenses into chromosomes | Prophase |
| Chromosomes align in center of cell. | Metaphase |
| Longest part of the cell cycle. | Interphase |
| Nuclear envelope breaks down. | Prometaphase |
| Cell is cleaved into two new daughter cells. | Anaphase |
| Daughter chromosomes arrive at the poles. | Telophase |
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