Bio 301 Final (copy)

What are innate behaviors?

are behaviors that are present in an organism from birth and do not require any learning or experience to manifest.

What is behavioral genetics?

the study of how genes influence behavior, particularly in humans and animals.

What are family studies in behavioral genetics?

involve examining the incidence of a particular trait or disorder within families, and comparing the rates of occurrence between closely related and more distant family members.

What are twin studies in behavioral genetics?

involve comparing the incidence of a particular trait or disorder between identical twins (who share 100% of their genes) and fraternal twins (who share about 50% of their genes).

What is the role of neurosecretory neurons?

growth, metabolism, and reproduction.

What is the role of the dopamine transporter?

brings dopamine back into the cell after it has been released into the synapse, thus regulating dopamine signaling in the brain.

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What are some inhibitors of the serotonin transporter?

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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac)

What is the role of monoamine oxidase?

is an enzyme that breaks down catecholamines such as dopamine and norepinephrine, regulating their levels in the brain and other tissues.

What are MAOIs used to treat?

Treat movement disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety

What are the dangerous side effects of MAOIs?

They can cause dangerous side effects if taken with alcohol or aged cheeses, tyramine-containing foods. Tyramine buildup can cause a hypertensive reaction.

How does MAOI work?

inhibit the catabolism of dietary amines in the liver.

What is the link between MAOA deficiency and aggressive behavior?

Families with male violent behavior have been linked to MAOA deficiency. Stressful experiences trigger the risk for aggressive behavior with MAOA.

Is there really a genetically criminal brain?

No

What environmental triggers are associated with crime?

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Remaining single is a trigger for violence that may have an underlying predisposition.

What are the dopamine pathways?

Substantia Nigra, which facilitates movement, and the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), also known as the mesocorticolimbic DA system

What are the twin concordance rates for ADHD?

are .80-.90 in MZ twins and .30-.40 in DZ twins

What is the heritability estimate for ADHD?

they range of .70 to .80.

What is the recurrence risk for siblings of individuals with ADHD?

35%

What environmental factors are associated with ADHD?

Maternal stress, maternal alcohol use and smoking, low birth weight, traumatic brain injury, psychosocial adversity, and chronic family conflict.

What genes are associated with ADHD?

include DRD4 and DRD5

How does methylphenidate (Ritalin) work in treating ADHD?

Methylphenidate binds to the Dopamine Transporter, increasing the amount of extracellular dopamine.

What role do dopamine and norepinephrine play in processes that require attention?

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Dopamine and norepinephrine have been shown to play a role in processes that require attention

What is oxytocin?

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known as the "love hormone," is given to induce labor and stimulate lactation milk "let down." It aids in mother-child bonding

What is the ability of stem cells?

Stem cells have the ability to divide and give rise to new cells.

What are the two types of daughter cells that stem cells can produce?

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Daughter cells can be more of the same stem cell type (self-renewal) or they can be more differentiated.

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What are embryonic stem cells, and where are they obtained from?

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Embryonic stem cells are obtained from embryos, usually blastocysts.

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What are somatic stem cells, and where are they taken from?

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Somatic stem cells are taken from tissue, particularly from tissue that has some regenerative properties.

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What are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and how are they created?

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iPSCs are cells from the skin that are "reprogrammed" by the introduction of stem cell genes. Reprogrammed cells then regain the potential of embryonic stem cells.

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What is the use of studying stem cells in basic biology?

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Studying stem cells in basic biology can help to understand the disease process in vitro, model the development of organs that are hard to study model what happens when a gene disrupts function, and drug screening.

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What is the use of stem cells in therapeutics?

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Stem cells can be used to replace damaged tissue, repair genes, replace diseased tissue, and perform gene therapy on stem cells.

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What are neural stem cells, and how are they created from iPSCs?

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Neural stem cells are created from iPSCs when they are induced to become neural stem cells.

What is the use of stem cells in modeling diseases?

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Stem cells can be used to model diseases in vitro, which can aid in the development of therapies and treatments.

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What is an artificial womb, and why would you need one?

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A device that can sustain a fetus outside of the uterus. It may be necessary in cases of infertility, premature birth, or other medical conditions that make it difficult for a fetus to develop normally.

What are the statistics on premature birth?

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1 in 10 babies are born too early, before 37 weeks. 1/3 of infant deaths are linked to prematurity

What was the success rate of attempts to clone a sheep?

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The success rate of attempts to clone a sheep was 1 out of 277.

What are some general problems with animal cloning?

Increased birth weight, deformed hearts, livers, age of chromosomes, and telomere loss.

How long did Dolly, the first cloned sheep, live?

Dolly, the first cloned sheep, died at age 6

Has human cloning been successfully performed?

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No

What happened to the claim made by Wook-Suk Hwang of Seol National University in South Korea in 2004 that he had cloned a human?

There was no proof to support the claim, and the paper was retracted.

Why are primate eggs difficult to clone?

Primate eggs are difficult to clone because spindle proteins are very close to the chromosome.

What does therapeutic cloning refer to?

Therapeutic cloning refers to creating a clone for the purpose of growing tissue that the body will not reject.

What does totipotent mean?

Totipotent refers to embryos that can become any tissue in the body

What are the three ways gene therapy may be used?

avoid drugs or surgery, replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene, or introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease

What are the characteristics of a good gene therapy vector?

A good gene therapy vector must target the right cell type, be specific for the cell that needs it, integrate the gene into the cells, have a promoter that will drive expression within the cells, and avoid harmful side effects such as bad reactions, infections, or cancer.

What are some examples of gene therapy vectors?

Some examples of gene therapy vectors include viruses, liposomes, plasmids, and virosomes.

What is the difference between in vivo and ex vivo gene therapy?

In vivo gene therapy delivers genes to the affected organ or tissue by directly infusing or injecting into the body, while ex vivo gene therapy involves taking the cells of interest out, treating them, and putting them back into the body.

What is a good candidate for gene therapy?

A good candidate for gene therapy is a condition that involves a single gene disorder rather than a polygenic disorder. The gene that is causing the disease must be known, and the biology of the disorder must be understood, including what tissues are affected, the role of the protein, and how mutations affect function.

What is the OTCD gene trial?

The OTCD gene trial was a two-year clinical trial conducted at UPenn's Institute for Human Gene Therapy

What is the CRISPR-Cas9 system and how does it work?

The CRISPR-Cas9 system is a genome editing tool that allows scientists to edit DNA sequences at specific locations in any species, including humans. It works by using a Cas9 protein and a guide RNA to cut DNA at a specific location, allowing scientists to add, delete, or replace DNA sequences.

What is the current status of the patent for the CRISPR-Cas9 system?

The patent for the CRISPR-Cas9 system is currently under dispute.

What ethical concerns were raised about a 2015 study that attempted CRISPR in human embryos?

potential consequences of genome editing, particularly regarding the safety and efficacy of the technology, as well as the potential for unintended consequences and misuse.

What did the National Academies of Sciences recommend in regards to clinical trials of genome editing?

The National Academies of Sciences recommended public discussion before deciding whether or how to pursue clinical trials of genome editing for purposes other than treatment or prevention of disease and disability.

What is eugenics, and when did it begin?

Eugenics is a social and scientific movement that aims to improve the genetic quality of human populations through selective breeding and other means.

What was the U.S. Eugenics Office, and what did it try to do?

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The U.S. Eugenics Office was a privately funded organization that tried to apply natural selection theory to humans and discouraged those found to be "inferior" from procreating. It made lists of undesirable traits and persuaded legislatures to adopt these lists and force sterilization to prevent those traits being passed on.

What were some of the negative eugenics traits identified by eugenicists?

Negative eugenics traits included feebleminded, insane, criminalistic, epileptic, inebriate, diseased, blind, deaf, deformed, and dependent people.

What is the significance of the Buck vs. Bell case?

The Buck vs. Bell case upheld Carrie Buck's forced sterilization, which did not violate the Due Process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

How does the degree of affiliation between individuals affect the number of alleles they share?

People from the same ethnicity/nationality will share more alleles on average than people of different ethnicity.

What is Huntington's Disease, and how did the cloning of the Huntington Disease Gene help identify the disease?

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Huntington's Disease (HD) is a genetic disorder that causes involuntary jerking or writhing movements, muscle problems, slow or abnormal eye movements, impaired gait, posture, and balance, difficulty with speech or swallowing, and mood problems. The cloning of the Huntington Disease Gene identified by Nancy Wexler utilized the fact that there appeared to be a higher frequency of the disease in a genetically isolated group

Why is understanding the genetics of specific diseases in specific populations important?

can help with diagnosis and treatment. It can also help identify populations that may be at higher risk for certain diseases and allow for targeted interventions

What kind of information do fossil records provide about early humans?

Fossil records provide information on how well the species can stand upright, size and differences between males and females, growth rate, adaptation to warm or cold climates, and evidence of cultural practices such as the use of tools and burial of the dead.

What are some characteristics of Neanderthals?

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Shorter limbs, barrel chest, flat forehead, smaller chin, and larger nose.

larger cranial capacity and visual cortex.

They were apex predators, made advanced tools, buried their dead, made buildings out of animal bones, cared for sick individuals, and possibly made dugout canoes.

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What is the "Out of Africa" model?

The "Out of Africa" model suggests that Homo Sapiens originated from H. erectus, and small groups migrated out of Africa 60,000 years ago, replacing and displacing H. erectus and H. neanderthalensis.

Did Neanderthals and Homo sapiens directly descend from each other?

No

Did early studies suggest that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens interbred?

No

Why did early studies not detect evidence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens?

Due to genetic drift affecting mitochondrial DNA.

What is the percentage of genome from Neanderthals found in people of European and Asian origins?

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1-4% of their genome from Neanderthals.