Bio 105 - Contemporary Biology - Fall 2017 Learning Guide 05

Chapter: 11 Part: 2 of 2 Parts

Major Topic(s) Covered: The Control of Gene Expression

Read Section(s): 11.12 to 11.18
Omit Section(s): Chapter 11 Introduction; 11.1 to 11.12
Individual Assignment(s): You have been given the task to make recommendations to a
Senate committee that is considering passing a law regulating research aimed at the
cloning of Human cells in the United States. It is anticipated that this research is aimed at
developing the technology to produce tissues, organs, and possibly whole individuals. You
have been asked to provide information for both sides of the debate. On one side of the
paper, list at least three reasons why all such research should be banned. On the other side
of the card, list three reasons why such research should be allowed.

Why this Material? On the theme of contemporary topics, we will also look briefly at
cloning of plants and animals and therapeutic cloning and also how an understanding of
what happens at the molecular level in human cells provides insight into the incidence of
some forms of cancer.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this learning guide, you should be able to:
1. Discuss ethical issues related to cloning
2. Understand relationship between cell division and cancer.

1. How are plant cloning and regeneration in animals similar?

Plant cloning refers to an individual created by asexual reproduction (reproduction of a
single individual minus the fusion of the sperm and the egg). Regeneration is the regrowth
of lost body parts. When regeneration occurs, certain cells dedifferentiate, divide and then
redifferentiate, giving rise to a new body part. Like a mature plant cell can dedifferentiate,
or reverse its differentiation, and then give rise to all the different kinds of specialized cells
of a new plant, regeneration works the same way.

2. What ethical issues surround the use of stem cells?

Require destruction of the embryo upon harvesting
Because no embryonic tissue is involved in their harvest, adult stem cells are less
ethically problematic

3. Describe the role that signal transduction pathways play in cancer initiation and
suppression.
Growth factor attaches to a protein or the receptor
Relay proteins/transducers will activate the transcription factor
Gene is being transcribed in the nucleus which will then produce a protein that will
stimulate cell division
When the gene mutates it becomes hyperactive; it doesnt need to be stimulated
That will cause transcription of the gene and then you will get uncontrolled cell
division

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Bio 105 - Contemporary Biology - Fall 2017 Learning Guide 05

Mutation in a gene that is involved in transduction and carrying the signal

Tumor suppressor genes:
Production of inhibitory protein
P53: common tumor suppressor genes
Dont produce the relay protein, no transcription/translation of the gene and if the
inhibitory protein is not produced you get uninhibited cell growth
Looking for transduction pathways that regulate cell growth
A very weak signal can cause a response, response has been amplified with a very small
signal

4. Define the term carcinogen and know some of the carcinogens to which you are
often exposed. Give an example of a way to decrease exposure to them.
A carcinogen is an agent that alters DNA and makes cells cancerous. Some carcinogens
that you are often exposed to include: tobacco smoke, alcohol, table salt, and estrogen
(for females obviously). Some ways to decrease exposure include: not smoking, eating
healthy, and consuming less alcohol. ALSO safe sex!!!

5. Understand the meaning and use of the following terms or ideas:

Adult stem cell

Farther along the road to differentiation that embryonic stem cells, they can give rise to
only a few related types of cells

Oncogene
A gene that can cause cancer when present in a single copy in the cell

Proto-oncogene
Normal, healthy gene that if changed can become a cancer-causing oncogene

Tumor-suppressor gene
Genes whose normal products inhibit cell division (proteins they encode help prevent
uncontrolled cell growth

Class Notes: 9/8/14

Prokaryotes have operons, eukaryotes dont; they have other mechanisms to get
genes expressed
Amount of DNA in a cell is larger in eukaryotes
Only 2% of the human genome codes for proteins this compares with >90% of
viral or bacterial genomes
Genes are not organized in the same manner as in prokaryotes: no operons and
more importantly genes are in pieces
Gene expression is different
In eukaryotic cells, genes are found in pieces. The message containing section of
genes are called exons.
Alternative RNA splicing has revealed inaccuracies in the one gene one
polypeptide hypothesis. Why?

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Bio 105 - Contemporary Biology - Fall 2017 Learning Guide 05

o Transcription of the same gene can lead to the production of different

mRNA