Exam 1 Discussion Questions

In-class Exercise Biology 211

Discussion Date: 6/30/15

1. A popular weight-loss program in early 2000s emphasized minimal input of

carbohydrates in a persons diet. Although this plan is highly controversial, can you think
of why such a diet might lead to weight loss? Why might it be considered controversial?

This will lead to weight loss because a cells primary source of energy is carbs. When
cells dont have these, the body will tap into stored fat for nutrients instead.

This is controversial because a cells primary food source is carbs, without it energy
production is minimized.

2. Trans-fatty acids are a type of unsaturated fat. Most trans-fats consumed today are
industrially created as a side effect of partial hydrogenation of plant oils (Crisco). In
trans-fat molecules, the hydrogens on the doubly bonded carbon atoms (characteristic of
all unsaturated fats) are straighter, rather than kinked, in shape. Why do you think transfats are considered unhealthy as compared to other unsaturated fats? Can you explain
your answer chemically?
The straighter oil chains have more hydrogen bonding, and so the intermolecular forces
between them are stronger, making it more solid like. This means that this fat can clog
arteries within the body easier, because it solidifies easier. The other unsaturated fats are
not as straight, are kinked, and so have less hydrogen bonding, and less likely to clump
together.

3. Why might an evolutionary biologist be interested in comparing the amino acid sequence
of proteins between two different species? What differences might she find when
comparing species that are distantly related or closely related? Explain.

Comparing amino acids of different species will help create an evolutionary history, and
to see if they are at all related, or if they have a common ancestor.

Distantly related species will have a common ancestor, but will have some differences.
Closely related species will be off by not much.

4. Viruses are particles that infect other cells. In some viruses, the genetic material consists
of two strands of RNA bonded together via complementary base pairing. How might
these two-stranded RNA molecules compare to a DNA double helix? Would it still be
antiparallel? Explain.
The RNA molecules will have different nitrogen bases than DNA, but are similar in that
two strands are connected with bonding between nitrogen bases.

Yes, it would still be antiparallel.

5. The percentage of naturally occurring elements making up the human body is similar to
the percentages of these elements found in other organisms on Earth. How can your
group account for this similarity?

All living things are made of cells, which are all made up of similar material. Some elements are
essential for life, such as oxygen and carbon. Carbon being unique in that it can be a chiral
center, so it is a very adaptive dynamic molecule, which can change according to how its
environment within a cell changes. Life adapts, and we adapted from cells, and so we have a
similar makeup in all living things.
In-class Exercise Biology 211

During lecture on 7/6/15

1. Epulos, a bacterium growing in the gut of tropical surgeon fish can reach the size of 500
micrometers. How does this compare to other bacteria and what problems does this
present the Epulos? What are some ways that a cell this size could alter its structure to
survive?
Bacteria are about 1um. This is bacterium is much bigger than a standard bacteria.

It would have a problem due to volume, it would need a lot more surface area. The cell
can alter its surface area by creating a rougher outter texture, making more contact with
the environment.

2. The leading hypothesis to explain the origin of the nuclear envelope in a eukaryotic cells
is from infolding of the plasma membrane of an ancient prokaryotic ancestor. What
evidence can your group see that supports this hypothesis? Explain.
The nuclear envelope could be formed by the plasma membrane making pockets all
around the would be nucleus, and then eventually breaking off after folding, eventually
surrounding the nucleus in its own membrane, the nuclear envelope.

3. Protein pathways through a cell can be analyzed by pulse-chase experiments where a

protein is first tagged by radioactive isotopes and then determining the proteins location
in the cell. Analyze the results of a pulse-chase experiment in the graph. Can you
explain the various concentrations of tagged proteins in different parts of the cell over
time? How could this method be used for determining mutations in a protein pathway?
The chart shows how concentrations vary along the path of the protein. At first concentration is
high in the ER, because this is where the protein is made, then the ER conc goes down as the
proteins enter the golgi apparatus, golgi conc increases, then decreases as proteins go down
vescicles.
Can test for mutation by dying the proteins and then watching if they have a different pathway
that the regular proteins.

In-class Exercise Biology 211

Date: During lecture on 7/7/15

1. Cystinuria is disease characterized by the abnormal production of painful kidney stones.

The stone formation does not appear to be related to patient dehydration. These stones are
produced because certain amino acids tend to build up and crystallize outside the
transport cells. Can your group think of any reason why a cell might fail to reabsorb
organic molecules?
A cell might fail to absorb molecules if its protein channels or carriers are clogged. A
molecule with a correctly shaped part could lodge into a carrier/channel protein, but
remain stuck. Could also be a mutation in the membrane proteins, leading to incorrect
function.

2. Flatworms are a diverse group living in freshwater and marine habitats. Protonephridia
are found in some species of flatworms. This organ is a series of tubes and pumps to get
rid of excess water that enters the worm passively from the environment. Which group
of flatworms (freshwater or marine) does your group think have the protonephridia
system? Explain.
The worms in fresh water are the ones with this pump. The fresh water has less solute
than the inside of the worm, so the cells absorb a lot of it. To prevent popping, this worm
adapted to pump extra water out.

3. Some herbicides prevent sucrose uptake by plant cells. Upon applying the herbicide to an
isolated plant cell, it was detected that the pH of the solution surrounding the cell
decreased over time. Propose an inhibiting mechanism for the herbicide (be specific as to
why the plant cannot uptake sucrose!).
The herbicide probably stops the cotransport. Since ph goes up outside of the cell,
the proton pump is still working. When a cotransport stops working it cannot intake
sucrose and protons back in.