Hi, a few really random questions;
In terms of monoclonal antibodies, are the antibodies constructed in labs (i.e. the actual proteins are constructed synthetically to be able to bind to cancer cell antigens/receptors/ growth factors etc... like rational drug design) or are the antibodies produced in the body, and these antibodies, or the plasma cells that produce them, are extracted and then in the lab they are fused with tumour-like cells to make them divide indefinitely?
Is the start codon translated but the stop codon is not?
Are exons exclusively relating to regions of mRNA? or can you use DNA to describe what exons are made up of?
When explaining the founder effect, do you refer to the gene pool of the founder group or the original species? Questions usually tend to surround the founder group but I thought the founder effect was a source of allele frequency changes in the original population?
Do neurotransmitters and cytokines undergo the same (general) signal transduction pathway as hydrophilic hormones; i.e. the production of intracellular secondary messengers, cascade of events which amplify signal? I know neurotransmitters usually induce a cellular response involving release of ions/initiation of an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron, but is mentioning the general signal transduction mechanisms necessary/required?
When writing the word or chemical equation for cellular respiration, usually you’d write ATP as part of the products. Is it necessary to include ADP+Pi in the reactants?
Thanks!
1. Monoclonal antibodies are identical antibodies that are produced by a single cell. The monoclonal antibodies are produced through injecting a mouse with specific antigens, it will then produce specific B plasma cells that synthesise antibodies against the injected antigens, whereby these B plasma cells can be extracted. Upon extraction, they are fused with myeloma cells (tumour plasma cells) from another mouse, forming a hybridoma. Hybridomas are immortal cell lines that produce unlimited amounts of the specific antibody concerned.
2. Correct. STOP codons do not code for any amino acids, only the START codon (methionine (AUG = Codon))
3. Umm.. not too sure what you are saying.. But exons are regions of DNA and mRNA that code for the specific polypeptide chain concerned, however introns are merely interruptions in that sequence. (So, I guess you can use the terms exons AND introns to describe BOTH mRNA and DNA)
4. When describing the founder effect, a specific non-representative group of an original population (in terms of allele frequencies) colonises a new region (by chance), in which giving rise to a new population that has decreased genetic diversity (i.e. Huntington's Disease in Tasmania).
5. If you are asked a question about the pathway of cytokines (in terms of signal transduction) it will be identical to any other pathways that you would have already seen with other hormones (i.e. insulin etc.). Now in terms of the neurotransmitter, it depends. IS the neurotransmitter binding to a neuron in a neural pathway OR binding to an effector cell? If it is binding to a cell that is going to elicit a specific response, then the pathway is alike any 'general' signal transduction pathway, however, if it binding to another neuron then it binds to post-synaptic receptors that open and allow for the flow of ions... (i.e. sodium, chloride, etc).
6. In terms of including adenosine diphosphate and inorganic phosphate as reactants, I doubt it... you don't include NADP + H+ in photosynthesis (or do you? ha). If it asks for chemical; ATP is used.... if word, maybe say 'energy'.... often times they (VCAA) don't require any mention of 'energy'....