BISC321 - Exam 1 reading questions

B cells can make a. The stress hormone corticosterone. b. An infinite number of different antibodies. c. Protein synthesis in muscles increase. d. Only one specific antibody for one specific antigen. e. Tadpoles elongate their tails.

d

True or False: Anxious rats who received little perinatal care will provide extra care to their offspring to compensate for their high methylation levels

False- they will provide little care to their offspring

What nutrient does Rhizobium fixate for plants within their symbiotic relationship, that neither the plants nor the Rhizobium can use nor fixate independently? a. Hydrogen b. Boron c. Oxygen d. Nitrogen

d

T/F- Aromatase expression can be increased or decreased through environmental chemical signals, changing the sex of certain animals.

true

T/F- Biofilms are interconnected microbial communities that band together to resist shearing forces in the gut.

true

The Nemoria Arizonaria caterpillar hatch on oak trees. In the Spring these caterpillars take the form of catkins ( the flower on the oak tree)and eat the newly developed leaves. The caterpillars that hatch in the summer look like new twigs and feed on the older leaves of the oak tree they live on. What type of phenotypic plasticity does this caterpillar exemplify? A) Developmental plasticity B) Temperature phenotypic plasticity C) Nutritional phenotypic plasticity D) a and c E None of the above

??

The microbiome in humans is thought to be important in the formation of brain, immune system, metabolic processes and bone density. In infants exposed to antibiotics at a young age, they are more likely to become prone to... A. higher levels of fat due to the lack of fat synthesis that can be thrown off due to the loss of microbes B. A decreased risk of developing allergies C. An increase in bone density D. A rapid growth in brain cells due to the resources freed from fighting microbes

A

Two pregnant female mice are being observed in a lab. Mouse A is fed dietary methyl groups in addition to her grains and seeds. Mouse B is fed only grains and seeds. What would you expect the difference between Mouse A and Mouse B's offspring to be. a. Mouse A's offspring would be brown and skinny, Mouse B's offspring would be yellow and obese b. Mouse A's offspring would be yellow and obese, Mouse B's offspring would be brown and skinny c. Mouse A's offspring would be brown and obese, Mouse B's offspring would be yellow and skinny d. Mouse A's offspring would be yellow and skinny, Mouse B's offspring would be brown and obese

A

A species of insect that can grow horns in the presence of a predator is likely expressing what? a. Natural selection b. Polyphenism c. A reaction norm d. Homeostasis e. A mutation

A reaction norm

1) Which of the following IS an example of a nutritional polyphenism? a.) A wasp larva fed royal jelly develops into a queen b.) Solitary locust nymphs that experience crowding start to eat toxicity- conferring plants that had previously been distasteful c.) Tadpoles in shrinking ponds develop wider mouths, larger jaw muscles and a modified intestine, enabling them to cannibalize other tadpoles d.) Human infants who are fed hard food develop jaws that "fit" better than the jaws of infants who are fed soft foods.

A. A wasp larva fed royal jelly develops into a queen

The genotype of the individual has the greatest impact on the makeup of the early gut bacterial community of the host.

Answer: False Reasoning: The early environment of the host has the greatest impact on the makeup of the gut bacterial community

True or False. The caste specification among honey bees occurs because 80% of the Queen's differentially methylated cytosines are methylated.

False

A disease that does best in female giraffes is sweeping across the African continent. Researchers to understand this new disease have an infected female giraffe mate with an uninfected male giraffe and an offspring is born healthy. Next, they mate an infected male with an uninfected female and no offspring is born. What could be the reason? A. Male Killing B. Cytoplasmic Incompatibility C. Prezygotic factors D. Symbiosis

B

Although gut bacteria are very important for a variety of reasons, it has been scientifically proven that gut bacteria have no effect of the human brain or human behavior. a) True b) False

B

An example of phenotypic plasticity is a. A new niche is created when a group of butterflies gets separated, now they have brighter wings. They no longer resemble the butterfly species they got separated by b. A beetle who got more nutrients is able to grow a larger horn c. The code on an otters DNA allows it to have a thicker coat than the others since its parents both had thicker fur d. A blue flower is crossed with and red flower their offspring have a swirl color of red and blue

B

DNA is about 6 feet long in the cell, and is bound up in eight histone proteins, which have protein tails. When certain chemical groups bind to these tails, the histone tails tighten or loosen, allowing transcription of genes. The Agouti gene in mice is a variant gene that occurs when these chemical groups binds to histone tails, causing obese, yellow mice. Say you want to see the Agouti gene in person. How would you change the mother's environment? a. Inject the mother with atrazine b. Feed the mother a methyl-rich diet c. Increase the environmental temperature d. Decrease the environmental temperature

B

Epigenetic changes are one way the environment influences gene expression. Which of the following is NOT an example of an epigenetic change? a. A methyl group is added to DNA sequence b. Mutagens in the environment cause the creation of a new single nucleotide polymorphism c. an acetyl group is added to DNA sequence d. changes in a social group of female fish become expressed by hormonal system and changes the behavioral phenotype

B

For a mammal, such as a mouse, not having internal bacteria is: a. Fine, as long as they only consume easily digestible foods. b. Like having a loss-of-function mutation. c. Not an issue. d. Better than having bacteria.

B

How would you expect DNA methylation to alter gene expression? a. Extremely increase expression b. Moderately increase expression c. No change in expression d. Measurably decrease expression e. Either increase or decrease expression

B

The Hygiene Hypothesis claims that raising children without natural bacterial symbionts will do what? a) Nothing- it's healthier to raise children in an entirely germ-free environment b) Inhibit the development of the immune system c) Harm children by removing natural stomach symbionts d) Greatly decrease bone and muscle mass

B

What is the difference between a mutation and an epimutation? a. Nothing, they are two different words with the same meaning b. A mutation is when the DNA sequence is altered, where as an epimutation is when the environment alters an epigenetic site that influences genomic activity c. An epimutation is when the DNA sequence is altered, where as a mutation is when the environment alters an epigenetic site that influences genomic activity d. A mutation occurs when natural selection plays a role in altering DNA, while an epimutation occurs when the environment causes natural selection to effect the genomic activity.

B

Which of the following is an example of transgenerational epigenetic transmission? A. A body builder is able to pass down his muscles to his offspring. B. A plant that is exposed to a predator is able to pass down his adaptation towards the predator. C. A mother who dies her hair blonde is able to pass down the blonde hair gene to her offspring. D. Only A&B are correct E. All of the above

B

Which of the following is not part of the clonal selection hypothesis, as mentioned in the text? a. Each B cell makes 1 type of antibody b. Each B cell places antibodies in cell membrane, specificity-bearing side pointing inward c. Bacteria/viruses are digested by macrophages then presented to antibodies on B cell membranes d. Only these B cells that bind to the antigen can complete development into the antibody e. Specificity of the antibody made by the plasma cell is same as that on the surface of the B cell

B

Without ________, sediments of decaying organic matter would be poisonous to seagrass. a. Algae that reside in the gastric cells or coral and transport 95% of their photosynthetically produced carbon compounds to their host b. Bacteria in the gills of clams that oxidize sulfides c. Bacteria that travel from the mother's cells into the developing egg d. Marine mammals that aid in water clarity and sediment stabilization

B

Queen bees are determined by eating a diet of only royal jelly; the main ingredient in this jelly is called "royalactin" which is a(n) ________: A) Carbohydrate B) Protein C) Fatty Acid D) Alcohol

B) Protein

A certain species of butterfly can have the trait BB or Bb for blue wings or bb for white wings. The different expressions of wing colors can be defined as a. Morphs b. Polymorphism c. Polyphenism d. Mutations e. AandB

B. Polymorphism

Epigenetics is the a genetic mechanism that creates phenotypic variation without altering the _______________ sequence.

Base-pair nucleotides

Each B cell can make ____ type(s) of ______. A. 2, antigen B. 1, antigen C. 1, antibody D. 1, antigen E. None of the above

C

What does the book describe as the two main factors influencing dependent sex differentiation? a. Temperature and Geographic location b. Geographic location and Stress hormones c. Temperature and Stress hormones d. Protein folding and Temperature

C

When a male goby fish is removed from his territory, the largest female goby fish begins showing more aggressive behavior. What is this an example of? a. Temperature-dependent polyphenism b. Caste specification c. Social interaction-based polyphenism d. Diet-induced phenotypic change

C

Which of the following is NOT a major route of altering gene expression? a. Signaling with hormones in the neuroendocrine system b. Environmental factors interacting directly with the cell c. Introducing the DNAse enzyme to silence desired genes d. Chemical modifications such as methylation and acetylation

C

Which of the following is NOT a type of symbiosis? a. Parasitism b. Mutualism c. Favoritism d. Commensalism

C

Which of the following situations will NOT cause parthenogenic aphids to grow wings: A) Aphid larvae are born in a field with a very large aphid population B) Aphid larvae live in a garden with many ladybugs and beetles C) Aphid larvae live in a large space with few predators D) Aphid larvae from a mother with wings live in a space with few predators

C

Which relationship would have the worst consequences for the host organism? a. A parasite using the host for transportation, food, and shelter b. An endosymbiotic bacteria using the host for protection c. A parasitoid using the host for reproduction d. Rhizobium bacteria wrapping around the roots of legume plants

C

Which type of symbiosis is beneficial to one partner and neither beneficial nor harmful to the other partner? a. Parasitism b. Mutualism c. Commensalism

C

____________ is the genome that's a repertoire for the production of numerous different phenotypes

Developmental plasticity

Human skin reacts to the UV rays from the sun by darkening, caused by an increased melanin production. The ability of the skin to become any range of darker pigmentation is an example of: A) Polyphenism B) Sunburn C) Reaction norm D) Epigenetic inheritance

C) Reaction norm

Gregarious Locust when laying eggs, coat their eggs in a froth containing a chemical agent that tells the developing young which type of locust to be. Either solitary or gregarious. If the froth is taken away the eggs will become solitary. If the eggs are solitary and give the froth then they will become gregarious. What type of polyphenism is this a. Genetic plasticity b. Phenotypic plasticity c. Transgenerational predator-induced d. Transgenerational polyphenism

D

Gut bacteria has been shown to do all of the following EXCEPT: a) Increase gut capillary networks b) Stimulate the host's immune system c) Help regulate emotional behavior d) Transmit permanent bacterial resistance

D

Intestinal Microbes can influence: A) The induction of gut blood vessels B) Brain development and subsequent behaviors C) Rates of obesity D) All the above E) None of the above

D

Mycorrhizae are relationships between _______________ a. Bacteria that combine with the roots of legume plants and fix nitrogen b. Types of parasitoid species that kills the larvae of insects c. Types of algae that cover salamander eggs to ensure sufficient oxygen d. Fungi that grow within or around the roots of plants

D

What do studies of maternal nurturing behavior in rats suggest about humans? a. Maternal nurturing causes children to release corticosterone, which reduces levels of stress and leads to more nurturing. b. People who are adequately nurtured early in life tend to be less nurturing when they have children of their own. c. Children with nurturing mothers develop fewer natural defenses to stress and are more likely to become suicidal. d. Maternal neglect early in life may have lasting impacts on a person's ability to cope with life's challenges

D

Which can play a part in phenotypic plasticity a. Temperature b. Predators c. Gravity d. all of the above

D

Which is not an example of symbiopoiesis? a. In nematodes, bacteria ride on microtubules in the mitotic spindle and are essential for regulating cell division b. Without a certain bacteria present, wasps' ovaries will undergo apoptosis. c. A salamander's eggs require a layer of algae over them to provide oxygen in deep lakes —the algae is deposited from the mother's body with the eggs d. Sea grass provides shelter and protection for fish.

D

Which of the below pathways could result in metamorphosis in amphibians and fish? a. Hypothalamus--CRH production--TSH production—thyroxin b. Hypothalamus—CRH production—ACTH production—corticostoids c. Hypothalamus—CRH production—ACTH production—thyroxin d. Both A and B e. Both A and C

D

Which of the following is NOT a way that antibiotics have affected industrialized countries? a) Antibiotics kill the "bad" microbes b) Antibiotics kill the "good" microbes c) Antibiotics are causing human health to change d) Antibiotics are causing Wolbachia to spread among mice

D

Phenotypes determined by the expression or suppression of certain genes can be called epigenetic. Another aspect of epigenetics is the ability to inherit non-genomic phenotypes. One example of an epigenetic inheritance is: A) Remaining drugs or metabolites across cell generations B) Brown hair that is a common trait in a family C) Stomach flora transferred from mother to child D) A and C E) None of the above

D) A and C

The enzyme, Aromatase, is responsible for changing ______ into ______. A) Testosterone, progesterone B) Estrogen, Testosterone C) L-Testonerone, R-Testosterone D) Testosterone, Estrogen

D) Testosterone, Estrogen

Chapter one of the book "Ecological Developmental Biology" by Gilbert and Epel discussed all of the follow except: A. Sexual polyphenism induced by conspecifics B. Trade-offs for predator induced polyphenism C. Behavioral differences from phenotypic differences in dung beetles D. Juvenile Hormones keeping bee larva small to produce worker bees

D. Juvenile Hormones keeping bee larva small to produce worker bees

How can Wolbachia be transmitted? a) Diagonally b) Horizontally c) Vertically d) All of the above e) BandConly

E

Which of the following are responsible for strengthening of muscles and bones? A) Indian hedgehog protein B) Sox9 transcription factor protein C) Mechanogrowth factor D) PGC-1a4 E) All the above

E

Which of the following is not an agent of developmental plasticity? A. nutrition B. light C. temperature D. the presence of predators E. All of the above are agents of developmental plasticity

E. All of the above

Conspecifics can effect polyphenism by: E. Creating enough stress to cause cannibalistic tadpoles to speed up metamorphosis F. Locusts seeing other locusts causing a color change to black-orange G. A male goby becoming a female when a female in the group dies H. Creating the same phenotypic change that would occur even when in solitary

E. Creating enough stress to cause cannibalistic tadpoles to speed up metamorphosis

True/False: Nitrogen fixation is the process in which ammonia (NH4+) is converted into N2 gas in the atmosphere.

FALSE

A parasitoid has a relationship with the host where the symbiont will benefit from the relationship and the host __________.

Is killed

What is the importance of mycorrhizae?

Mycorrhizae (fungus roots) are important to extend the plant's root system and receive organic compounds from the plant. They also connect with each other and form a network under the soil that aids in communication.

Which is not true about mutualism? A) The result of the death of the host can also mean the death of the symbiont. B) Both the host and the symbiont benefit from the relationship. C) The symbiont and the host cannot survive without their symbiotic relationship. D) All are true. E) A and C are false.

NOT SURE LOOK UP

Honeybees choose the new queen based upon many chemical signals. One of the most well-known and important is that of the protein rich, royal jelly that is fed to larva to aid in their development. This type of signaling is responsible for what type of polyphenism? a. Predator Induced b. Temperature Induced c. Nutritional Induced d. Gravity/ Pressure Induced

Nutritional Induced

________________________ is a condition where variation is a product of environmental signals, while ____________________ is a condition where variation is a product of genetic differences.

Polypheniesm, polymorphism

What is the difference between reaction norm and polymorphism?

The difference is that reaction norm has a range of variation of phenotype that could be expressed and polymorphisms have defined possible phenotypic outcomes.

True/False: Life cycle symbiosis is intimately connected with the environment and coordinated with the seasons

TRUE

In three sentences explain how different cues from the environment can illicit the same phenotypic response.

The red-eyed tree frog will hatch early from eggs when certain vibration are created by snakes on the leaf that they were laid on. The red-eyed tree frog will also hatch early when a predator wasp is attacking the eggs and when some of the eggs are staring to get a fungal infection. All of these triggers receive the same response, early hatch to try to escape the environmental pressure.

What enzyme plays the most relevant role in sex determination? _______

aromatase

Phenotypic expression can be influenced by epigenetics. Sometimes environmental factors can enable transgenerational inheritance. Define transgenerational inheritance, and give an example, mentioning the genetic process that results in this expression.

Transgenerational inheritance refers to traits that will be expressed in the future generations, or offspring, of the original individual who expressed the trait. In mice, it has been shown that if a maternal mouse has a diet low in protein, her genes for metabolism will become more methylated, causing the body to store more energy from the food than is normal. Her offspring will also carry this gene, even if they receive a normal protein diet.

T or F: Artificial sweeteners can change the microbial population in your gut preventing weight loss.

True

________ is the enzyme responsible for controlling hormone ratio by converting testosterone into estrogen

aromatase

The parasite T. gondii can be found in rats, but can only reproduce in cats- how does it facilitate the transference between species by altering methylation? a. Reduces the rat's fear response after exposure to cat urine, making them more susceptible to being eaten b. Reduces rat's motor skills, causing a lack of coordination that makes the rat easier for the cat to catch c. Alters the rat's defecation behavior, allowing the parasite to exit the rat via defecation near the cat's food source and thus be consumed by the cat d. Increases the rat's adrenaline levels, keeping it awake for longer hours of the day and thus likely in increased presence of cats

a

About 95% of seeded plants have a symbiotic relationship with fungus that functionally extends the root system; what is this relationship called? a. Mycorrhizae b. Foshizzle c. Pepto-Bismol d. Root Repair(TM)

a - check

An herbicide is introduced to an aquatic ecosystem due to run off and kills most of the algae. A scientist notices the number of offspring has drastically decreased from last season, what might most likely happened? a) the frogs weren't attracted to each other this season b) the algae had a symbiotic relationship with the frog eggs and usually aids in offspring development, but was nearly wiped out by the herbicide c) the season was colder and cloudier than usual so the thermocline was not present d) all of the above

b

What base is the most susceptible to methylation? a. Guanine b. Cytosine c. Thymine d. Adenine

b. Cytosine

Chemicals produced by a predator that induce defenses in its prey are known as a. Aromatases b. Kairomones c. Chromatosomes d. Tannins

b. Kairomones

The male dung beetle can either develop with horns or no horns at all depending on the nutrition and quantity of dung the larva grow up in. This variation of horn length also alters their behavior and mating, with the larger horned beetles having smaller testes and penis. This situation is referred to? a. Conspecific b. Trade-off c. Reaction Norm d. Unlucky

b. Trade-off

Rat pups that are not groomed by their mother shortly after birth develop anxiety. The rat pups are most likely to a. Groom their own pups because they were deprived of affection at a young age and therefore instinctively give affection to their pups. b. Abandon their pups because of their increased levels of anxiety. c. Not groom their own pups because that is what they learned from their mothers. d. B and C e. None of the above

c

The alteration of fear behavior in rats due to the presence of T. gondiii, is due to what type of environmental factor? a. The temperature during reproduction b. The season during birth c. Presence of a parasite d. The presence of aromatase

c. Presence of a parasite

Locusts can change from their solitary phase to their migratory phase within 4 hours after receiving the appropriate stimuli. What type of phenotypic plasticity is this an example of? a. Sexual Plasticity b. Gravitational Plasticity c. Behavioral/Physical Plasticity d. Sensory Plasticity

c. behavioral/physical plasticity

The chemicals that are released by a predator and that induce defenses in its prey are called _____________. a.) Paracrine factors b.) Tyrosinase c.) Kairomones d.) Aromatase

c.) Kairomones

Wolbachia can change the male to female ratio of a population through male killing. In which ways can Wolbachia control the male population? a. By killing the male progeny of an infected female b. Feminizing genetically male embryos c. Parthenogenesis induction d. All the above

d

Predator induced polyphenism is a very crucial defense to many organisms. This change in phenotype has an evolutionary advantage that allows prey to outcompete predators so that they may survive and reproduce. What is the general term for the chemical signal given off by predators that alerts prey? a. Pheromones b. Hormones c. Neurotransmitters d. Kairomones

d. Kairomones

The dark coloration of a Siamese cat's face, ears, and paws is the result of a mutation affecting the temperature dependent ________, tyrosinase.

enzyme

3) True or False. A polyphenism is a CONTINUOUS phenotype elicited by the environment.

false

Acquired characteristics cannot be inherited. True or False?

false

T/F Vertical transmission of a symbiont in a mammal occurs when they stand vertically for the first time and the symbiont is able to pass through the organism vertically

false

T/F- Epigenetics is the concentrated study of aromatase and how it alone affects the transcriptional potential of cells.

false

T/F- Tadpoles that hatch early due to vibrational stimuli are not more vulnerable to predators.

false

True or false: Environmental stresses cannot affect an organism's gene expression before they are born.

false

True/False: The Enhancer is located closer to the transcription start site on DNA than the Promoter.

false

True/false: The methylation of the Agouti gene in a pregnant mouse; will cause the offspring to demonstrate the dominant gene; obese with yellow pigmented fur

false

What term is used to describe an organism and its symbiont populations? ______

holobiont

2) Consider the following scenario: Researchers have observed that individuals belonging to a certain species of owl have different-sized eyes. Owls with larger eyes (and consequently, better night vision) catch more prey than owls with smaller eyes. However, owls with larger eyes tend to have smaller beaks, which can cause problems for the birds when they try to swallow their prey whole. The allocation of resources during development from the beak to the eyes is called a _____________________

trade-off.

Germ-free mice cannot develop the complete vascular network of their small intestine. True or False; Colonizing a germ-free mouse with a sample from the gut of a conventionally raised mouse can complete their small intestine vascular network in 10 days

true