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NSC 408 Final Exam Questions
with Detailed Verified Answers
Graded A+
What does the Agouti mouse experiment demonstrate? Ans: Maternal diet
during gestation has a profound effect on the phenotype of the offspring
Peptide hormones are made of ___, and steroid hormones are derived from
___. Ans: Chains of amino acids; cholesterol
About what percentage of breast cancer cases are attributable to family
history (BRCA-1 mutations)? Ans: About 5%
Epigenetic changes to DNA are heritable (can be passed to offspring), even
though they do not result in changes to DNA sequence. Ans: True
In a patient with pyruvate carboxylase deficiency, who cannot generate
oxaloacetate, why not just treat the patient directly with oxaloacetate
supplementation? Ans: Oxaloacetate is not able to cross the the
mitochondrial membrane
Under normal circumstances, pyruvate is converted to either acetyl co A or
oxaloacetate, which are used to run the Krebs cycle. When pyruvate builds up
faster than it is being used in the Krebs cycle, what immediate alternative
pathway does it take? Ans: It is converted into lactate.
What is polymorphism? Ans: A DNA sequence variation that can alter the
structure and function of the protein product, but is not lethal
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The conversion of pyruvate to oxaloacetate is catalyzed by which enzyme?
Ans: Pyruvate carboxylase
Which of the following is a factor that helps determine the effect of a given
nutrient in our bodies? Ans: -dosage (how much is consumed)
-nutrient timing (when the nutrient is consumed)
-genotype (mutations/polymorphisms)
- co-exposure (other environmental factors that can interact with the nutrient)
Why didn't the completion of the human genome project give us the answers
to curing all diseases? Ans: The vast majority of disease are not related to
genetics, but epigenetics, proteomics (the profile of proteins present in an
individual) and environmental exposures
Based on your knowledge of metabolic pathways of glucose, amino acids, and
fats, which would most likely be elevated in a patient with a non-functioning
pyruvate carboxylase (PC) enzyme? Ans: Ketone bodies, blood alanine, blood
lactate,
The expression of genes is cell/tissue specific (i.e. the protein products of
genes in one type of cell can be different than in other types of cells). Ans:
True
The acetylation of histones activates transcription. Ans: True
The epigenetic benefits gained from eating foods such as broccoli, are
transient, meaning they do not last forever. In order to sustain these benefits,
consumption of the food must be consistent. Ans: True
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Which answer best explains why blood alanine levels may be elevated in a
patient with a non-functional pyruvate carboxylase (PC) enzyme? Ans: Alanine
is the primary amino acid providing carbons for gluconeogenesis, so when
glucose is needed, alanine is mobilized from the muscles and transported
though the blood to the liver.
Which of the following enzymes is responsible for the deacetylation of
histones? Ans: HDAC
It is important to consider the Transamination Pathway for those who... Ans: -
have type 2 diabetes
-are fasting
-have a PC deficiency
The ___ is the set of genes which code for a trait in which the expression is
referred to as the ___. Ans: genotype; phenotype.
What is most likely the largest provider of carbons for gluconeogenesis in the
absence of glucose? Ans: alanine
When no glucose is available, our bodies create more through
gluconeogenesis. When this happens, amino acids like leucine and lysine are
mainly converted to acetyl-coA. How many net carbons do these particular
amino acids contribute to new glucose through gluconeogenesis? Ans: zero
By which process is an amino group removed from an amino acid and placed
onto an alpha-keto acid, creating a new amino acid and a new alpha-keto
acid? Ans: Transamination
In order for the enzyme DNA methyltransferase to catalyze the methylation of
DNA, ___ needs to be present on the DNA strand. Ans: CpG
NSC 408 Final Exam Questions
with Detailed Verified Answers
Graded A+
What does the Agouti mouse experiment demonstrate? Ans: Maternal diet
during gestation has a profound effect on the phenotype of the offspring
Peptide hormones are made of ___, and steroid hormones are derived from
___. Ans: Chains of amino acids; cholesterol
About what percentage of breast cancer cases are attributable to family
history (BRCA-1 mutations)? Ans: About 5%
Epigenetic changes to DNA are heritable (can be passed to offspring), even
though they do not result in changes to DNA sequence. Ans: True
In a patient with pyruvate carboxylase deficiency, who cannot generate
oxaloacetate, why not just treat the patient directly with oxaloacetate
supplementation? Ans: Oxaloacetate is not able to cross the the
mitochondrial membrane
Under normal circumstances, pyruvate is converted to either acetyl co A or
oxaloacetate, which are used to run the Krebs cycle. When pyruvate builds up
faster than it is being used in the Krebs cycle, what immediate alternative
pathway does it take? Ans: It is converted into lactate.
What is polymorphism? Ans: A DNA sequence variation that can alter the
structure and function of the protein product, but is not lethal
,2|Page
The conversion of pyruvate to oxaloacetate is catalyzed by which enzyme?
Ans: Pyruvate carboxylase
Which of the following is a factor that helps determine the effect of a given
nutrient in our bodies? Ans: -dosage (how much is consumed)
-nutrient timing (when the nutrient is consumed)
-genotype (mutations/polymorphisms)
- co-exposure (other environmental factors that can interact with the nutrient)
Why didn't the completion of the human genome project give us the answers
to curing all diseases? Ans: The vast majority of disease are not related to
genetics, but epigenetics, proteomics (the profile of proteins present in an
individual) and environmental exposures
Based on your knowledge of metabolic pathways of glucose, amino acids, and
fats, which would most likely be elevated in a patient with a non-functioning
pyruvate carboxylase (PC) enzyme? Ans: Ketone bodies, blood alanine, blood
lactate,
The expression of genes is cell/tissue specific (i.e. the protein products of
genes in one type of cell can be different than in other types of cells). Ans:
True
The acetylation of histones activates transcription. Ans: True
The epigenetic benefits gained from eating foods such as broccoli, are
transient, meaning they do not last forever. In order to sustain these benefits,
consumption of the food must be consistent. Ans: True
, 3|Page
Which answer best explains why blood alanine levels may be elevated in a
patient with a non-functional pyruvate carboxylase (PC) enzyme? Ans: Alanine
is the primary amino acid providing carbons for gluconeogenesis, so when
glucose is needed, alanine is mobilized from the muscles and transported
though the blood to the liver.
Which of the following enzymes is responsible for the deacetylation of
histones? Ans: HDAC
It is important to consider the Transamination Pathway for those who... Ans: -
have type 2 diabetes
-are fasting
-have a PC deficiency
The ___ is the set of genes which code for a trait in which the expression is
referred to as the ___. Ans: genotype; phenotype.
What is most likely the largest provider of carbons for gluconeogenesis in the
absence of glucose? Ans: alanine
When no glucose is available, our bodies create more through
gluconeogenesis. When this happens, amino acids like leucine and lysine are
mainly converted to acetyl-coA. How many net carbons do these particular
amino acids contribute to new glucose through gluconeogenesis? Ans: zero
By which process is an amino group removed from an amino acid and placed
onto an alpha-keto acid, creating a new amino acid and a new alpha-keto
acid? Ans: Transamination
In order for the enzyme DNA methyltransferase to catalyze the methylation of
DNA, ___ needs to be present on the DNA strand. Ans: CpG
