Medical Biotechnology Study Guide Exam Questions
with Answers Graded A+ 2025/2026
Gene conservation - -Many important genes are highly conserved across
many different species
-Relation to human genes is based on DNA sequence similarity
Homologues - -Related genes in different species
Homologue examples/testing - -Genes involved in human illnesses can be
eliminated in a model organism (like mice that have the same gene as
humans) in a knockout experiment to learn about function
-Mice can become obese if they lack an ob gene
-Human homologue discovery reveals that genetics may influence weight
disorders
ob Gene/ leptin - -ob Gene - codes for leptin
-leptin - a protein hormone that helps regulate hunger
Model organisms - -nonhuman organisms that scientists use to study
biological processes in experimental lab conditions
-Used by scientists to identify disease genes and test therapy approaches
for efficacy and safety before use in human clinical trials
Model Organism examples - -Mice
-Rats
-Worms
-Fruit flies
-Bacteria
Efficacy - Effectiveness
How many genes to humans have in common with BACTERIA? - 100s
We are ...% related to YEAST - 31%
We are ...% related to ROUNDWORMS - 40%
We are ...% related to FRUIT FLY - 50%
,We are ...% related to MICE - 90%
Even though humans are closely related to model organisms in terms of
genes, humans make many more... - Proteins
Fruit fly scientific name - Drosophila melangaster
Genes that we share with fruit flies - -Body plan
-Organ development
-Aging
-Death
About ...% of mutated genes found in ... human disease conditions found in
fruit fly.
These include... - 61%, 289
-Prostate cancer
-Pancreatic cancer
-Cystic fibrosis
-Leukemia
Scientific name for roundworms - Caenorhabditis elegans
3 facts about C. elegans - -959 cells
-131 cells are destined to die through apoptosis
-Maps created to help scientists determine fate/lineage of cells
Apoptosis in humans - -Skin cells create webs between fingers and toes
which are degenerated through apoptosis before birth
-Alzheimer's
-Huntington's
-Lou Gehrig's (ALS)
-Parkinson's
-Arthritis
-Infertility
Heart disease - -Being studied in model organisms
-Knock outs to develop heart attack mice
-Elevated blood cholesterol leads to atherosclerosis
-Eventually test therapies to combat heart disease on these mice
, Heart Attack Mice - -Knockouts used to create them
-Get rid of genes required for cholesterol metabolism
Atherosclerosis - -Hardening of the arteries
Current model organism used for AIDS research - -Monkeys
-Important but expensive
Scientist are trying to create ___ models infected with HIV - -Rodent
Why can't rodents be used as model organisms for HIV right now? - -
Destroys human T lymphocytes
-Does not recognize mouse T cells
-Once model organisms have been created and compounds are discovered
to treat disease, official testing can begin so a new drug or treatment can
be developed
Food and Drug Administration - -FDA
-A US regulatory agency that oversees food, drugs, and devices
-Also monitors clinical trials and approves new drugs that have succeeded
Pharmaceutical companies - -Those licensed to discover, develop, market,
and distribute drugs
Drugs (according to the FDA) - -substances intended for use in diagnosis,
cure, treatment, or prevention, of disease
4 steps of preclinical testing - 1) identify a lead compound
2) Years of testing to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the compound
3) In vitro studies are carried out to identify the way it interacts with its
target
4) Tests on model organisms take place (6-7 years)
lead compound - Potential drug candidate
Pharmacokinetics - -In preclinical testing
-the study of how drugs move through living organisms
-Four processes
-Absorption
-Distribution
with Answers Graded A+ 2025/2026
Gene conservation - -Many important genes are highly conserved across
many different species
-Relation to human genes is based on DNA sequence similarity
Homologues - -Related genes in different species
Homologue examples/testing - -Genes involved in human illnesses can be
eliminated in a model organism (like mice that have the same gene as
humans) in a knockout experiment to learn about function
-Mice can become obese if they lack an ob gene
-Human homologue discovery reveals that genetics may influence weight
disorders
ob Gene/ leptin - -ob Gene - codes for leptin
-leptin - a protein hormone that helps regulate hunger
Model organisms - -nonhuman organisms that scientists use to study
biological processes in experimental lab conditions
-Used by scientists to identify disease genes and test therapy approaches
for efficacy and safety before use in human clinical trials
Model Organism examples - -Mice
-Rats
-Worms
-Fruit flies
-Bacteria
Efficacy - Effectiveness
How many genes to humans have in common with BACTERIA? - 100s
We are ...% related to YEAST - 31%
We are ...% related to ROUNDWORMS - 40%
We are ...% related to FRUIT FLY - 50%
,We are ...% related to MICE - 90%
Even though humans are closely related to model organisms in terms of
genes, humans make many more... - Proteins
Fruit fly scientific name - Drosophila melangaster
Genes that we share with fruit flies - -Body plan
-Organ development
-Aging
-Death
About ...% of mutated genes found in ... human disease conditions found in
fruit fly.
These include... - 61%, 289
-Prostate cancer
-Pancreatic cancer
-Cystic fibrosis
-Leukemia
Scientific name for roundworms - Caenorhabditis elegans
3 facts about C. elegans - -959 cells
-131 cells are destined to die through apoptosis
-Maps created to help scientists determine fate/lineage of cells
Apoptosis in humans - -Skin cells create webs between fingers and toes
which are degenerated through apoptosis before birth
-Alzheimer's
-Huntington's
-Lou Gehrig's (ALS)
-Parkinson's
-Arthritis
-Infertility
Heart disease - -Being studied in model organisms
-Knock outs to develop heart attack mice
-Elevated blood cholesterol leads to atherosclerosis
-Eventually test therapies to combat heart disease on these mice
, Heart Attack Mice - -Knockouts used to create them
-Get rid of genes required for cholesterol metabolism
Atherosclerosis - -Hardening of the arteries
Current model organism used for AIDS research - -Monkeys
-Important but expensive
Scientist are trying to create ___ models infected with HIV - -Rodent
Why can't rodents be used as model organisms for HIV right now? - -
Destroys human T lymphocytes
-Does not recognize mouse T cells
-Once model organisms have been created and compounds are discovered
to treat disease, official testing can begin so a new drug or treatment can
be developed
Food and Drug Administration - -FDA
-A US regulatory agency that oversees food, drugs, and devices
-Also monitors clinical trials and approves new drugs that have succeeded
Pharmaceutical companies - -Those licensed to discover, develop, market,
and distribute drugs
Drugs (according to the FDA) - -substances intended for use in diagnosis,
cure, treatment, or prevention, of disease
4 steps of preclinical testing - 1) identify a lead compound
2) Years of testing to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the compound
3) In vitro studies are carried out to identify the way it interacts with its
target
4) Tests on model organisms take place (6-7 years)
lead compound - Potential drug candidate
Pharmacokinetics - -In preclinical testing
-the study of how drugs move through living organisms
-Four processes
-Absorption
-Distribution
