Quiz on Epigenetics and Gene Expression

Examples of environmental factors that may have epigenetic influences (i.e., turn on or off certain genes) include:

• a. X-rays and radioactivity

• b. Genetics and inheritance

• c. Diet, stress, and exposure to pollutants

• d. Mitosis and meiosis

At this point, what does ‘epigenetics’ mean:

• a. Study of genetics

• b. Study of mutations

• c. Study of changes in gene expression

• d. Study of chromosomal structure

Identify the point in the gene expression process that RNAi, such as miRNA and siRNA, occurs:

• a. Transcription initiation

• b. mRNA splicing

• c. Translation

• d. Post-transcriptional modification

How might the understanding of environmental factors affecting the activation or silencing of certain genes, and that those epigenetic patterns may be heritable, influence lifestyle decisions you make?

• a. Not at all

• b. Minimally

• c. Somewhat

• d. Significantly

Long-term stressors may cause epigenetic changes that are associated with negative health consequences:

• a. Genetic mutations

• b. Mutagenesis

• c. Epigenetic modifications

• d. Chromosomal rearrangements

Identify the point in the gene expression process that chromatin modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation, occur:

• a. Transcription initiation

• b. mRNA splicing

• c. Translation

• d. Post-transcriptional modification

The study of phenotypic changes due to alterations in gene expression, as opposed to alterations in the DNA sequence:

• a. Genetics

• b. Genomics

• c. Epigenetics

• d. Mutationomics

How might the understanding that epigenetic changes we acquire during life may be passed on to offspring affect the way you think about Lamarckian evolution?

• a. Reinforces Lamarckian evolution

• b. Contradicts Lamarckian evolution

• c. Has no impact on Lamarckian evolution

• d. Modifies the principles of Lamarckian evolution

Which mechanism is primarily responsible for the silencing of genes in mammals?

• a. Gene amplification

• b. DNA methylation

• c. Chromosomal crossing-over

• d. Gene duplication

What role do histone modifications play in epigenetics?

• a. They alter the DNA sequence directly

• b. They affect the physical structure of the DNA

• c. They are involved in DNA replication

• d. They code for specific proteins