Log in
Biology
1
answer
0
watching
819
views

Prostate cells usually require testosterone and other androgens to survive. But some prostate cancer cells thrive despite treatments that eliminate androgens. One hypothesis is that estrogen, often considered a female hormone, may be activating genes normally controlled by an androgen in these cancer cells. Describe one or more experiments to test this hypothesis.

Watch
1
answer
0
watching
819
views

For unlimited access to Homework Help, a Homework+ subscription is required.

Jarrod Robel
Jarrod RobelLv2
28 Sep 2019

Unlock all answers

Get 1 free homework help answer.
Already have an account? Log in
Share

Related textbook solutions

Molecular Cell Biology
8 Edition,
Lodish
ISBN: 9781464183393
Biology: Science for Life with Physiology
6 Edition,
Belk
ISBN: 9780134555430
Biology
2nd Edition, 2013
Openstax
ISBN: 9781947172517
Concepts of Biology
OER Edition,
Openstax
ISBN: 9781938168116
Essentials of Biology
5 Edition,
Mader
ISBN: 9781259660269

Related questions

Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii), the world’s largest carnivorous marsupials, are facing extinction. Not from hunting, or habitat loss, but from within; a transmissible cancerous derivative of Schwann cells, responsible for devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). First seen in 1996, the disease has spread widely though the population, and is now estimated to be present in 80% of the population. With the grim prognosis of ~100% mortality in 12-18 months, animals that once went through multiple breeding cycles are now lucky to reproduce once before death, resulting in a 70% decline in their population over the past decade. The cancer is transmitted by biting (a common ritual used by these animals to establish and maintain social position), with cancer cells from one animal (the biter) being implanted in the wound inflicted on the other animal. Equally common in both sexes, the disease itself is more prevalent in animals higher on the social scale, presumably reflecting higher levels of social interaction (biting). The cancer is usually first evident as facial tumors, from which metastasis to cervical lymph nodes occurs, often followed by dissemination to other organ systems. Cause of death is by organ failure or by malnutrition in those with facial tumors large enough to prevent feeding. Based on what we have covered regarding the Major Histocompatibility Complex, you would expect the passage of a cancer from one individual to another* to be a rare event (to see just how rare, read the accompanying popular press piece from the New York Times). Here are some things that you already know: *Yes, some viruses can cause cancer (example: Hepatitis B virus and liver cancer), and you can transmit a virus from one individual to another; but that is not the same thing as passing the cancer itself. v Almost all nucleated cells express high levels of class I MHC proteins on their surface. v Class I MHC proteins collect peptides produced from endogenous proteins and display them at the cell surface. v Different Class I MHC proteins bind and display different peptides. v Developing cytotoxic T-cells that recognize self-antigens are eliminated. v Mature cytotoxic T-cells conduct surveillance by scanning the peptides displayed by class I MHC proteins. v Mature cytotoxic T-cells that recognize an antigen on a cell will kill that cell (recall that cytotoxic T cell activity is important in rejection of tissue transplants).

Before the questions:
v Tasmanian Devils are not immunosuppressed.
v Tasmanian Devil cytotoxic T-cells are not broken, they can kill cells.
So neither of those should be part of your answers.
This is an ongoing research topic with large gaps in our knowledge; we really don’t fully understand how this works
and so there is no “correct” answer. Your job is to provide a logical argument, with some research and details to
support your contention. Note that in questions 1 & 2 class I MHC should be part of your answer, but not in
question 3.

Questions:
1.) Acquiring DFTD is basically like receiving a transplant that is not rejected. How can that be? Suggest a possible
way this could occur. Be sure to explain why you think this would work, and then explain how you would test
that model to determine if it were correct. (10 point question).
2.) Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor (CTVT) is the other know transmissible cancer in mammals. Unlike
DFTD, CTVT does not usually result in death. Do a little research on this disease and summarize how it is
different from DFTD. Provide an explanation as to why one is lethal and the other is generally not. (10 point
question).
3.) Recently, researchers at Washington State University determined that some Tasmanian devils had developed
resistance to this cancer. By scanning partial genome sequences of resistant and susceptible animals (a
complete devil genome has yet to be assembled) they identified a set of genes where mutations appeared to
enhance resistance. Speculate as to the function of the proteins these genes encode, and explain why that
might provide for resistance (note: they were NOT MHC genes).

Mainly need guidance/ideas for #1's 1 and 3!

dentifying Dependent and Independent Variables

In order to test a hypothesis and prediction, controlled experiments are used. Controlled experiments involve several necessary components. An independent variable is usually manipulated by a researcher but does not change as a result of the experiment. The changes in the dependent variable may be caused by the experiment (and depend upon the independent variable). Graphs that depict the experimental data list the independent variable on the x-axis while the y-axis shows the dependent variable.

A commonly used mnemonic (memory device) to aid in distinguishing the characteristics of the types of variables is DRY MIX.

D = dependent variable (depends on the other)

R = responding variable (one that changes)

Y = y-axis on a graph

M = manipulated variable (one that is changed by the researcher)

I = independent variable

X = x-axis on a graph

The following sentence is a template to write an if/then statement to be used as a prediction:

If the independent variable is changed [increased, decreased, etc.], then the dependent variable will change in this way [increase, decrease, etc.].

Example: If the amount of available light increases, then plant growth will increase.

Discussion Questions:

Use the tools and examples just discussed to answer the questions about the experiment scenario described next.

Jonah and Tessa noticed that some Leopard frogs by a local river had extra limbs. They decided to check various areas along the river to make more observations. They recorded their observations in their field notebooks. Jonah and Tessa performed a simple laboratory experiment with Leopard frog eggs and river water taken at various spots along the river. They noticed that adult frogs developing from eggs in water collected near an industrial park showed more deformities, but the deformities seemed to be different than those seen on frogs in the natural setting by the river.

Write a prediction that would be appropriate for the experiment scenario.

What would be the independent variable in the experiment?

What would be the dependent variable in the experiment?

What steps should Jonah and Tessa take to ensure that the experiment would be controlled?

Why would they perform these experiments in the laboratory and not in the river?

What conclusion should the researchers derive from their data?

What might be some alternative hypotheses for this situation?

What could be a next step for their investigation?

What other information may help them design future experiments?


Class 6: Viruses (and Cells, continued)


Making connections: viruses and microbes Match the cell biology concept (on page 1) with an important application of that concept (on page 2). Then answer the follow-up questions at the bottom of page 2.


Cell Biology concepts
1. Bacteria that cannot construct new cell wall material become fragile and break down.
2. During influenza infection, the viral enzyme neuraminidase is required to release new viruses from the host cell in which they were made. Once released, the new viruses can infect many additional cells.
3. Thermus aquaticus is a bacterium found in hot springs and can live at temperatures up to ~80°C (175°F). It has adapted so that its enzymes are most functional at the elevated temperatures, compared with many organisms’ enzymes that function best ~37°C (98°F).
4. Until the isolation and investigation of retroviruses, scientists thought that RNA could be copied from DNA, but DNA could not be copied from RNA. Research on this class of viruses led to an update to this “Central Dogma” of biology.
5. Some bacteria have adapted, so that the enzymes involved in making cell wall materials have a slightly different shape and can no longer be bound by certain drugs.
6. Rhizobia are bacteria that colonize the roots of certain plants (legumes, including beans and peas). The host plant benefits from the prokaryotes’ ability to “fix” nitrogen, converting N2 from the atmosphere into a form that is usable by the plant.
7. Many species of bacteria contain the enzyme cellulase. More than 10 billion such bacteria and other symbiotic microbes may be found in a single milliliter of material from inside the digestive system of ruminant mammals.
8. Fungi, including those that cause athlete’s foot, use ergosterol to maintain healthy membranes. Animal cells do not make ergosterol, they use a similar lipid – cholesterol.
9. During retrovirus infection, a DNA copy is made of the virus’s RNA genome. A cut is made in the host cell’s DNA and the DNA copy of the viral genome is pasted into the host chromosome by a viral enzyme called integrase.
10. Prokaryotic cells contain smaller ribosomes (“70S” ribosomes) than eukaryotic cells (“80S” ribosomes). Both types of ribosomes synthesize proteins, but the macromolecules they use to do it are somewhat different.



2
Applications
_______ Oseltamivir, also called Tamiflu, binds and inhibits the viral protein neuraminidase.
_______ Clotrimazole is a drug that is used to treat certain infections. It interferes with synthesis of ergosterol, a lipid involved in phospholipid membranes.
_______ Penicillin is a drug that interferes with synthesis of peptidoglycans (these are biological molecules that are part protein and part carbohydrate) that are present in certain cell walls.
_______ HIV is often treated with several drugs that inhibit different parts of the viral replicative cycle. Raltegravir is an example of a drug that interferes with the integration of viral genes into the host cell’s chromosome.
_______ Cows, like other vertebrates, lack the ability to breakdown cellulose. Yet they are able to live on a diet of grass and other vegetation high in cellulose.
_______ Enzymes isolated from extremophiles have been very useful in laboratory research. For example, Taq polymerase facilitates PCR, a revolutionary technique for production of DNAs of particular sequences, which requires cycling reactions through high temperatures.
_______ Plants and animals require nitrogen to make biological macromolecules, however they’re unable to convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into a biologically useful form.
_______ Azithromycin is a drug that binds to 70S ribosomes and blocks synthesis of any new proteins.
_______ Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can cause life-threatening infections of the skin and bloodstream. One of the reasons MRSA infections are so serious is that they are resistant to treatment by many antibiotics, including methicillin and penicillin.
_______ The enzyme reverse transcriptase, isolated from retroviruses, is an important tool in molecular biology research. Scientists interested in learning what genes are turned on in particular cells use it to make DNA copies of RNAs they are studying (The DNA copies are useful because they are more stable).


When you have completed the matching activity, answer these follow-up questions:
• What types of infections can be treated with the following drugs?
o Penicillin
o Clotrimazole
o Azithromycin
o Tamiflu
o Raltegravir
• Why are these drugs (above) safe for you to take? That is, why don’t they kill your cells?
• Cancer cells are your own human cells that have become deregulated so that they divide and pile up in an uncontrolled way. Many chemotherapy drugs treat cancer by interfering with cell division and other cell processes.
o Why are there so many more side effects for individuals undergoing chemotherapy than for individuals taking antibiotics?

Weekly leaderboard

Home
Homework Help 3,900,000
Biology 460,000
Start filling in the gaps now
Log in