Name: Ricki Elaine Dalipe

Sched: Wed 1-6pm

Bio. 108: Cell Biology (Lecture)
INSTRUCTIONS: Please answer the following questions comprehensively. Please cite your
sources and references for each question. Please rephrase your answer if taken from the
internet. Write all your answer in a short coupon Bond
1. Describe the principle behind Watson crick Base Pairs? Why are they important?(10
Points)
Purines Adenine and Thymine are always a pair and pyrimidines Guanine and Cytosine
are also paired. Only with these pairs (A with T and G with C), the hydrogen bond can
facilitate. Whatever the amount or number of Adenine there is, the same amount or
number of Thymine also exists, similar principle occur as that of Guanine and Cytosine.
This incur that if we can read one strand of the base, then the other strand can be easily
predicted due to complementary pairing. This principle is significant for DNA repair for it
to remain subtle and firm.
2. What difference between RNA and DNA helps to explain the greater stability of DNA?
What implications does this have for the function of DNA?(10 points)
The genetic material from DNA is supposed to be very stable than that of the RNA so
that no inaccuracy occur in the sequence information of the genetic material that is
passed on from generation to generation. The conversion from RNA to DNA makes the
genetic material increasingly stable than as it is.
Thymine is found only on DNA instead of Uracil, this functions to increase the
enhancement of the attachment of the genetic message. In general, DNA is more stable
than that of RNA for the reason that DNA functions as a storage of genetic material
whilst RNA functions several minor roles.
3. Cite current problems still unresolved in the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology.(10
points)
One problem involves the idea of how biological information flows from DNA to proteins.
Basically, it starts off in DNA where it the information is coded in the nucleotides and
then is transferred to mRNA, which is at that point transferred into tRNA, which then
offers the peptide chain which in the end folds and accumulate the protein.
Nonetheless, the chief remaining problem is in determining on how information that is in
the form of a polypeptide amino acid chain alters itself when folding into a 3-dimensional
protein, and still able to facilitate that process.
4. What, if anything, is wrong with the following statement:dna stability in both
reproductive cells and somatic cells is essential for the survival of a species. Explain
your answer.(10 points)
As we all know, DNA serves as the storage of the genetic information of an organism.
This particular genetic information is passed on from one generation to another. It is the
main element of how an organism is uniquely designed from one another. If an individual
possess unstable DNA, can result to severe illnesses such as cancer, this is referred as

genomic instability due to disrepair of DNA. It can also result to chromosomal disorder of
the reproductive cells that can possibly affect the offspring.
5. Explain why telomeres and telomerase are needed for replication of eucaryotic
chromosomes but not for replication of a circular bacterial chromosome. Draw a diagram
to illustrate your explanation.(10 points)
The telomeres are unusual structures that are responsible for protection from enzymatic
end-degradation and sustaining chromosome stability.
The telomeres at the end of chromosomes of most eukaryotic cells are duplicated by
another mechanism; most telomeres are short GC-rich repeats that are added in a 5' to
3' course by the enzyme telomerase.
In prokaryotic chromosomes, no definite morphological stage happen during DNA
replication, while in eukaryotic chromosomes, dna replication occurs only in the S phase
of mitotically cycle.
6. Discuss the following statement: Viruses exist in the twilight zone of life: outside cells
they are simply dead assemblies of molecules; inside cells, however, they are alive.(5
points)
Virus attack a healthy person. Some are dormant and some are active during a specific
period. When they are dormant, they assemble extrinsically but they are still alive, in
simple terms they are in an inactive state. Whilst, on their active state they are found
inside, and so they function actively and lively, they are alive and dynamic because they
are capable of sticking onto hosts for symbiotic purposes because as we all know, they
are parasitic.
7. Many transposons move within a genome by replicative mechanisms. They therefore
increase in copy number each time they transpose. Although individual transposition
events are rare, many transposons are found in multiple copies in genomes. What do
you suppose keeps the transposons from completely overrunning their hosts genomes?
(10 points)
Even though several transposons enclose extra coding DNA, many transposons code
for only the elements essential for copying and moving the sequence from one location
to another location in the genome. Transposons appear to be selfish. It will continue if
the effect is to increase the probability that it will be copied and passed on to the next
generation. If a certain transposon has the outcome of making the organism better or
more likely to be productive then the transposon will become more conjoint.
Transposons spread by straightly copying themselves. Transposon that spreads by
replication of itself is selfish because it still does not contribute to the capability of the
organism.
8. Discuss the following argument: If the expression of every gene depends on a set of
transcription regulators, then the expression of these regulators must also depend on
the expression of other regulators, and their expression must depend on the expression
of still other regulators, and so on. Cells would therefore need an infinite number of
genes, most of which would code for transcription regulators.How does the cell get by
without having to achieve the impossible?(20 points)

Transcriptional initiation, termination and regulation are facilitated by DNA looping

which brings together promoters, enhancers, transcription factors and RNA processing
factors to accurately regulate gene expression. The configuration of the genome is
essential for enhancer-promoter proximity. The initiation stage is the binding of RNA
polymerase to the promoter in DNA. Transcriptional termination is a mechanism that
causes RNA transcription to be stopped. And finally, transcriptional regulation, a cell
regulates the conversion of DNA to RNA, thereby arranging gene activity. These
processes make the operation neat and easy-flowing.
9. Describe the works of Paul Nurse on the control of cell cycle. Give a comprehensive
review summary of his works.(20 points)
Paul Nurse is a geneticist and cell biologist whose discoveries have helped to explain
how the cell controls its cycle of growth and division. Working in fission yeast, he
showed that the cdc2 gene encodes a protein kinase, which ensures the cell is ready to
copy its DNA and divide. Pauls findings have broader significance since errors in cell
growth and division may lead to cancer and other serious diseases.
During the year of 1976, Nurse classified the gene cdc2 in fission
yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe). This gene has the ability to control the
progression of the cell cycle from G1 phase to S phase and the shift from G2
phase to mitosis. In 1987, Nurse recognized the homologous gene found in
human, Cdk1, which codes for a cyclin dependent kinase.
When cells consisting of nuclei divide, they divide in phases called G1 (growth), S
(synthesis), G2 (growth), and M (mitosis). Two proteins, cyclin and cyclin dependent
kinase (CDK) control the transition from one stage to another. These are called
checkpoints, checking whether the cell has been separated properly and if the cell
doesn't then, other proteins will try to repair it, and if it failed, they will terminate the cell.
If a cell divides wrongly and still survives, it can cause cancer and other serious
diseases.
Operation of yeast fission, Nurse found out that gene cdc2, which controls the alteration
from G1 to S, when the cell matures in planning for the duplication of DNA, and G2 to M,
when the cell splits. Nurse also discovered the corresponding gene called CDK1, in
humans.
10. What can you say about Genetically Modified organism (GMO)? Are they safe?
Substantiate your answer by citing major evidences from peer reviewed articles and
journals. (10 points).
Most of the genetic modifications aim to increase farming success but also for the
reduction of environmental or crop destruction due to pesticides and herbicides.
Genetically modified foods have a quantity of theoretically deleterious side effects. Some
genetically modified foods contain genes that increase resistance to certain antibiotics

this property can be transferred to a person eating the food; antibiotics might not have
the usual effects against infection. The cross contamination of nearby plants with pollen
from genetically modified crops could transfer certain genes from one plant type to
another. Increased resistance has occurred in mosquitoes that developed resistance to
the pesticide DDT. Introduction of genetic material from one plant to another may result
in the introduction of allergenic material from one species into another. These are just
some of the side effects of GMOs, still all of them are recognized to be intolerable.
11. Discuss the Molecular Basis of BELIEF? (5 Points).
Before men existed and all other living organisms arose on the grounds of earth, a toxic
environment preexisted. A toxic atmosphere was present, impossibility of life to happen.
But after an asteroid collided with our planet, an after effect of gradual existence of life
occurred. The evolution of life is one evidence. As written in the bible, the Lord created
the heaven and earth, in scientific explanation, the planet survived the collision and
exhibited the arising of life and so, the atmosphere was no longer toxic and the ground
was lava-free. This topic is very interesting but complicated.
12. Describe at least 1 current discovery in the field of epigenetics.Cite the journal of your
sources. (10 points)
September 24, 2015
Source: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
A tool that allows scientists to monitor changes in DNA methylation over time in
individual cells has been developed by a group of researchers. Certain diseases,
including cancer, cause changes in DNA methylation patterns, and the ability to
document these alterations could aid in the development of novel therapies.
13. Describe the different types of genes and their functions according to the result from the
Human Genome Project.(10 points)
14. What is the total number of the following in the human Body.(5 points)
a.
Higgs Bosons
b.
Atom 7*1027
c.
Genes100,000
d.
Proteins 2,000,000
e.
Cells 37.2 trillion