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Questions and Answers
What is the main purpose of cell differentiation?
What is the main purpose of cell differentiation?
What triggers the changes in gene expression during cell differentiation?
What triggers the changes in gene expression during cell differentiation?
What type of cells are somatic cells?
What type of cells are somatic cells?
What are transcription factors responsible for?
What are transcription factors responsible for?
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What defines the specific structure and function of a cell through differential gene expression?
What defines the specific structure and function of a cell through differential gene expression?
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How does gene expression relate to the appearance of different somatic cells?
How does gene expression relate to the appearance of different somatic cells?
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What are the specialized cells of the body that are not somatic cells called?
What are the specialized cells of the body that are not somatic cells called?
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What technology does differential gene expression analysis utilize?
What technology does differential gene expression analysis utilize?
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What is the main consequence of unwanted differential gene expression in adult somatic cells?
What is the main consequence of unwanted differential gene expression in adult somatic cells?
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Which type of chromosome has its centromere located at the end?
Which type of chromosome has its centromere located at the end?
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What happens to unexpressed genes in a cell?
What happens to unexpressed genes in a cell?
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When does cell differentiation begin during development?
When does cell differentiation begin during development?
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What type of reproduction requires only one parent?
What type of reproduction requires only one parent?
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What is the primary result of crossing-over during meiosis?
What is the primary result of crossing-over during meiosis?
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During which cell division does a diploid cell divide to produce four haploid gametes?
During which cell division does a diploid cell divide to produce four haploid gametes?
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Which feature distinguishes meiotic cell division from mitotic division?
Which feature distinguishes meiotic cell division from mitotic division?
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What structure wraps around histones to form nucleosomes?
What structure wraps around histones to form nucleosomes?
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What is the role of enhancers and promoters in gene expression?
What is the role of enhancers and promoters in gene expression?
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How is genetic material combined during fertilization?
How is genetic material combined during fertilization?
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What is typically evident in a karyotype?
What is typically evident in a karyotype?
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Study Notes
Cell Differentiation
- Cell differentiation is the process of stem cells specializing
- Creates diversity in life and within body cells
- Allows cells to create unique structures for specific functions
- Signaling molecules trigger signal transduction, affecting gene expression
- Transcription factors are proteins that change gene expression
- Differentiation begins 3 weeks post-fertilization
- Cytoplasmic localization and induction (extracellular signals) drive changes in gene expression
Somatic Cells
- Specialized cells with fixed structure and function
- Examples: liver, skin, kidney, brain cells
- All body cells except stem cells, germ cells, and gametes
- Were previously undifferentiated stem cells
- Cellular differentiation transforms them into specialized cells
- Differential gene expression is the trigger for this process
- Different gene expression creates differences in looking and acting
- All cells contain the organism's genome (complete DNA sequence)
- Unexpressed genes are silenced, not deleted
- Differential gene expression analysis (DGE): uses RNA sequencing to determine expressed genes
Genes and DNA
- Genes are the basic unit of inheritance
- Composed of DNA made of nucleotides (A, T, C, G)
- Phosphate group, sugar, and nucleotides make up DNA
- Genes reside in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and on chromosomes in prokaryotic cells
- Histones are proteins that DNA wraps around
- Gene expression into proteins is guided by factors like enhancers and promoters
- Alleles are different versions of genes inherited in pairs
Chromosomes
- Chromosomes are DNA wrapped around histones (nucleosomes) and further condensed
- Humans have 46 chromosomes (22 autosomal pairs, 1 sex pair)
- Chromosomes are a pair of sister chromatids joined by a centromere
- Types: metacentric, submetacentric, acrocentric, telocentric
- Karyotypes are visual maps of chromosomes used to identify sex and genetic anomalies
Reproduction
- Reproduction is creating offspring
- Asexual reproduction: one parent
- Sexual reproduction: two parents, unique offspring due to combined genes
- Gametes (sperm and egg) are reproductive cells with half the chromosomes as other cells
- Fertilization: egg and sperm combine genetic material
- Gametes produced by meiosis
- Internal fertilization (humans, dogs), vs. external (frogs, fish)
Meiosis
- Meiosis involves two cell divisions (meiosis I and II) producing 4 gametes
- Contrasts with mitosis (one division, two identical cells)
- Meiosis I: homologous chromosomes pair (tetrads), crossing over occurs, separates, producing 2 daughter cells
- Meiosis II: Two daughter cells divide again to create 4 haploid gametes
- DNA replicates prior to meiosis, but not before meiosis II
- Meiosis creates genetically unique gametes, a key factor in biological evolution
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Description
This quiz explores the processes of cell differentiation and the characteristics of somatic cells. Understanding how stem cells specialize and how differential gene expression impacts cell function is key to grasping the diversity of life. Dive into the mechanisms that drive these essential biological processes.
