Epigenetics and Gene Variation

How can a person's muscle cells have the same exact DNA sequences as their nerve cells even though the look and perform completely different?

• The two different cells become mutated

• The proteins expressed in each cell are different

• They actually have different DNA in the two types of cells.

• The genome of the different cells changes

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What is a Gene?

• A segment of RNA that encodes for a protein
• A chromosome
• A segment of DNA that encodes for a protein
• Your genome

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The process by which a cell becomes specialized for a specific structure or function.

• cell multiplication
• cell division
• mitosis
• cell differentiation

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Activation or deactivation of genes by environmental experiences throughout development

• turn on genes
• gene expression
• environmental factors
• gene markers

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Protein molecules around which DNA is tightly coiled in chromatin

• Histones
• Whey
• Casein
• Hemoglobin

The complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes.

• genome
• epigenome
• genetic markers
• RNA codon

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The difference between DNA code and the epigenome is that the DNA code is

• flexible, while the epigenome is fixed for life
• fixed for life, while the epigenome is flexible
• determined by the environment, while the epigenome is not
• determined by one's stress level, while the epigenome is not

At which stage in the lives of identical twins is the DNA code expected to be most similar?

• Age 6 months
• Age 21
• Age 55
• Trick question; the DNA code doesn't generally change

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At what stage in the life of identical twins is the epigenome expected to be most similar?

• Age 6 months
• Age 21
• Age 55
• Trick quesiton; the epigenome never changes

When cells are exposed to chemicals that damage DNA, what is the usual response?

• The cells automatically become cancerous
• Normal biochemical repair processes fix any damage
• The cells undergo apoptosis, a type of cell death
• The cells change to a different type of cell