Developmental Genetics

What is the correct order of parts in a typical gene?

5’ UTR, Promoter, Exon, Intron, 3’ UTR

—- is the observable properties of an organism produced by its genotype.

Phenotype

The study of evolution through changes in the way organisms control their development and is also known as

Evo-Devo

Epigenetics could be defined as heritable changes in gene expression that occur without changes in

DNA Sequence

The telomere theory of aging states that

Telomere length decreases during aging.

A major reason we discussed for studying changes in phenotypes in MUTANT organisms is to determine the function of the mutated ___.

gene

We discussed six different general causes/theories of aging. Which of the following is NOT a general cause/theory that we discussed?

a. Stress, such as oxidative stress

b. Wear and Tear theory

c. Genetic or programmed aging like senescence

d. All of these are general causes/theories of aging

e. Mitochondrial genome damage

d. All of these are general causes/theories of aging

A major reason we discussed for studying changes in phenotypes in TRANSGENETIC organisms is to determine the function of the altered ___

Gene

The drosophila mutation antenna podia where legs are formed in place of antennae is an example of a

Homeotic Mutation

The effect of this type of mutation can be more adverse or detrimental than a null mutation in which there is a complete loss of gene function:

Dominant negative

The ___ layer is the site of origin for the neural tube formed during neurulation.

Ectoderm

When one conducts a mutagenesis screen “looking for a defect in a particular gene regardless of specific phenotype”, this is known as:

Reverse Genetic Screen

Why would it be important to override a site of sperm entry cue in establishing axis polarity?

To properly develop in response to an important environmental cue.

The concentration of a morphogen in a gradient can cause the following effects:

a. All of these answers discussing levels are possible

b. None of these answers discussing levels are possible

c. Activation of a gene at high morphogen levels

d. Repression of a gene at high morphogen levels

All of these answers discussing levels are possible

Which two are NOT one of the three major body axes of an organism?

Vertical and Horizontal

At which of the following levels does aging not occur?

All levels

Which of these is NOT used as a tool to generate a fate map?

a. All of these are used as tools to generate fate maps

b. Physical destruction of cells during development

c. Molecular tools to follow development

d. Vital or fluorescent dyes to track cells during development

All are tools

Which of the following is a specific benefit of using CRISPR methodology in genetics research?

a. Single DNA strand replacement
b. Site directed DNA editing
c. Nuclear targeting
d. Promoter editing
e. The ability to stop epigenetic effects

Site directed DNA editing

Which of the following is NOT a phenotypic change associated with environmental influence?

All are true

It takes the coordination of four systems to control normal embryo polarity in drosophila. Which of the following is NOT one of these systems?

a. Posterior system

b. Anterior system

c. Terminal system

d. Progenitor system

Progenitor System

Which of the following is NOT a general cause/theory we discussed?

a. Wear and Tear theory

b. Genetic or programmed aging like senescence

c. All of these are general causes/theories of aging

d. Mitochondrial genome damage

All of these are general causes/theories of aging.

What could you do to determine if HFO is an epigenetically regulated gene?

All of the above

Epigenetics could be defined as heritable changes in gene expression that occurs without changes in ___

DNA Sequence

Which of the following is NOT a general characteristic of a good model system?

Uniqueness

Which of the following is NOT a specific characteristic of a good developmental and genetic model system?

a. Ability to manipulate

b. link to relevant Development or Genetic Processes

c. Link to economic importance

d. Sequenced genome

e. Large sized progeny

Large sized progeny

Transcription is NOT regulated by

a. None of these answers are correct

b. Destructor elements

c. Repressor elements

d. Enhancer elements

Destructor elements

Which of these is NOT a major signaling pathway used to activate a transcription factor?

a. Zinc-Finger

b. TGFB/BMP

c. Hedgehog

d. WNT/wingless

Zinc-Finger

Transcription factor DNA binding sites are NOT

a. Highly variable in sequence composition between different transcription factors

b. All of these answers are true about transcription factor binding sites

c. Sometimes in the 3’ or intron of a gene

d. Known as Cis-regulator elements

e. Usually 5-25 base paurs in length

All of these answers are true about transcription factor binding sites

Which of these features is NOT true of the Notch signaling pathway?

There is no transcription factor involved

Your grant will focus on the study of the T-box proteins: Tbx4 and Tbx5, which coordinate with fibroblast growth factors because these genes are important for ___

Both the specification of hind and forelimbs

Which of these is NOT a major factor involved in vertebrate limb development?
a. All of these answers are major factors
b. Hox gene transcription factors
c. Gradient of Sonic Hedgehog
d. Signaling

All of these answers are major factors

Which is NOT a common epigenetic mechanism?
a. Mutation
b. All of these are common mechanisms
c. Methylation
d. Histone modifications

Mutation

Which of the following is a type of pattern of methylation?
a. Hypermethylation
b. De novo methylation
c. Maintenance methylation
d. Hypomethylation
e. all of these are types of patterns

All of these are types of patterns

This indicates that for petal formation these genes are:

Necessary and Sufficient

Enhancer elements are a special type of cis-regulatory element that:

Can act on gene transcription over a distance of more than 10 kb

Which of these is NOT a type of gene involved in drosophila segmentation?a. Segment polarity
b. Pair-Rule
c. Gap
d. Spacer
e. all of the above

Spacer

In organisms, changes in gene expression without altering normal organ function can occur through molecular parsimony in which genes are _______ then _______.

Duplicated; Diverged

_____ are genes in different species that have evolved from a common ancestor.

Orthologs

________ genes are evolutionarily related genes that can be further divided into two classes.

Homologous

_______ are genes within a genome that have occurred through gene duplication.

Paralogs

Label the following as either a transcription factor or a signaling pathway:
LEUCINE ZIPPER

Transcription factor

Label the following as either a transcription factor or a signaling pathway:
JAK/STAT

Signaling pathway

Label the following as either a transcription factor or a signaling pathway:
G-PROTEIN

Signaling pathway

Label the following as either a transcription factor or a signaling pathway:
HELIX-TURN-HELIX

Transcription factors

Label the following as either a transcription factor or a signaling pathway:
RTK

Signaling pathway

Name the four major parts of a general signaling pathway.

1. Ligand

2. Receptor

3. Signaling Cascade

4. Transcription Factor

Match the following events: NERVOUS SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
a) organogenesis
b) gastrulation
c) cleavage
d) fertilization

Organogenesis

Match the following events: GERM LAYER FORMATION
a) organogenesis
b) gastrulation
c) cleavage
d) fertilization

Gastrulation

Match the following events: ZYGOTE FORMATION
a) organogenesis
b) gastrulation
c) cleavage
d) fertilization

Fertilization

Match the following events: EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN CELL NUMBER
a) organogenesis
b) gastrulation
c) cleavage
d) fertilization

Cleavage

Match the following events: ESTABLISHMENT OF BODY PLAN
a) organogenesis
b) gastrulation
c) cleavage
d) fertilization

Gastrulation

Match the tissue system/organ to the three different germ layers formed during gastrulation: GUT

Endoderm

Match the tissue system/organ to the three different germ layers formed during gastrulation: MUSCLE

Mesoderm

Match the tissue system/organ to the three different germ layers formed during gastrulation: SKIN

Ectoderm

Indicate whether the following are terms used to describe either a gene or a protein:
Promoter

Gene

Indicate whether the following are terms used to describe either a gene or a protein:
Transmembrane Domain

Protein

Indicate whether the following are terms used to describe either a gene or a protein:
TATA Box

Gene

Indicate whether the following are terms used to describe either a gene or a protein:
Cellular Targeting Sequence

Protein

There are 3 different general pathways by which environmental factors can alter phenotypes through differential gene expression. What are they?

1. Modification of genes

2. Indirect activation

3. Direct activation of signaling pathways

Macroevolutionary patterns of changes often occur through changes in gene function or changes in gene expression. Name 3 different types of changes in gene expression that lead to standard evolutionary developmental patterns of change.

1. Heterotopy
2. Heterotypy
3. Heterochrony
4. Heterometry

Match the gene with the axis of patterning that it is involved in regulating during limb development: Anterior-Posterior
a. Hox Genes
b. Sonic Hedgehog
c. Wnt7a

Sonic Hedgehog

Match the gene with the axis of patterning that it is involved in regulating during limb development: Proximal-Distal
a. Hox Genes
b. Sonic Hedgehog
c. Wnt7a

Hox genes

Match the gene with the axis of patterning that it is involved in regulating during limb development: Dorsal-Ventral
a. Hox Genes
b. Sonic Hedgehog
c. Wnt7a

Wnt7a

Which of the following is a general model to describe how the proximal distal axis in the limb is formed?
a. Early allocation and progenitor expansion model
b. Both the Progress zone model and Early allocation and progenitor expansion model
c. Both Progress zone model and Mesodermal axis model
d. Progress zone model
e. Mesodermal axis model

Both the Progress zone model and Early allocation and progenitor expansion model

Light is a signal for which of the following processes in plants? (3)

1. Photomorphogenesis
2. Phototropism
3. Circadian Clock Regulation

Indicate the digit specified in each of the three chick limbs below, as determined by the graph of the morphogen concentration.

Numbers 1, 5, 9 = 2
Numbers 2, 7 = 3
Numbers 3, 4, 6, 8 = 4

Morphogen gradients are regulated by a number of different mechanisms. List three.

1. Cross Repression
2. Positive Feedback
3. Feed Forward Loop

List two points that you believe are needed to make a good developmental genetics paper/presentation:

1. Clear research question

2. Comprehensive review of relevant literature

List two factors that you believe are needed to make a good figure:

1. Clear labeling of axes and data points

2. Appropriate scale and resolution

True or False? Tissue differentiation during neurulation begins with the formation of the notochord.

True

True or False? A partial fate map of an organism's development can be quite useful in developmental genetic studies.

True

True or False? The process of dividing the drosophila embryo into multiple segments requires just a single morphogen gradient

False

True or False? Genes involved in controlling segmentation in drosophila are transcription factors involved in the activation/repression of each other's expression.

True

True or False? The first establishment of polarity in a zygote always fixes its axes of polarity as seen in the brown algae Fucus.

False

True or False? Transcription factors such as beta catenin in sea urchin often play an important role during early embryo development

True

True or False? We discussed a wide range of environmental factors that can influence development. Both temperature and diet are some of those factors.

True

True or False? Microevolution can be described as evolution that occurs through small changes in genes at a species level under a standard set of evolutionary dynamics

True

True or False? As many plants contain either male or female only flowers a better understanding of how flower organ identity is determined via the ABCE model may provide clues to what is occurring in these system

True

True or False? Light functions as a ligand only in plants

False

True or False? Like photoreceptors, light responsive elements in the promoter region of light activated genes are directly activated by light photons.

False

True or False? Light does not routinely affect developmental pathways in plants through the activation of hormone signaling pathways

False

True or False? Senescence can best be described as the final phase in an organism's life.

True

True or False? Changes in nutrition or diet that affect the length of an organism's lifespan through its ability to contribute energy to general maintenance and repair could be classified as an example of the general theory of aging

False

True or False? As many organisms in the wild don't reach an age of senescence there is likely little evolutionary pressure on the extension of lifespan in organisms

True

True or False? More than one epigenetic mechanism can interact to affect organism phenotype

True

Which of these is NOT a mechanism for maintaining a signal?
a. Autocrine loop
b. Paracrine loop
c. Self-reinforcing signal
d. All of the above are mechanisms for maintaining a signal

All of the above are mechanisms for maintaining a signal

Which of the following is NOT essential for a single morphogen to differentiate cells?
a. Presence of a morphogen gradient

b. Morphogen responsive genes with different thresholds
c. Specific localization of morphogen responsive genes
d. Morphogen gradient responsive genes
e. Presence of a morphogen

Specific localization of morphogen responsive genes

We discussed the workings of the ABC+E model of flower development....
Answer 1:

A+E

We discussed the workings of the ABC+E model of flower development....
Answer 2:

E+C

We discussed the workings of the ABC+E model of flower development....
Answer 3

B+C+E

We discussed the workings of the ABC+E model of flower development....
Answer 4

A+B+E

We discussed the workings of the ABC+E model of flower development....
Answer 5

A+B+E

We discussed the workings of the ABC+E model of flower development....
Answer 6

A+E

We discussed the workings of the ABC+E model of flower development....
Answer 7

E+C

We discussed the workings of the ABC+E model of flower development....
Answer 8

B+C+E

We discussed the workings of the ABC+E model of flower development....
Answer 9

E

We discussed the workings of the ABC+E model of flower development....
Answer 10

B+C+E

We discussed the workings of the ABC+E model of flower development....
Answer 11

A+E

We discussed the workings of the ABC+E model of flower development....
Answer A+B+E

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