Deck 3: Epigenetics and Disease

Question 1

Mutations in the encoding of histone-modifying proteins have been shown to influence the development of what congenial condition?

A) Cleft palate
B) Acephalous
C) Heart disease
D) Webbed digits

Answer 1

Heart disease

Question 2

What is the role of inactive MLH1 in the development of some forms of inherited colon cancer?

A) Deletion of a nucleotide repeat in the DUX4 gene.
B) DNA damage is left unrepaired.
C) Expansion in the number of cytosine-guanine (CG) dinucleotide.
D) Abnormalities of chromosome 11p15.5 that lead to downregulation of IGF2.

Answer 2

DNA damage is left unrepaired.

Question 3

Screening tools that are epigenetically based have shown promise in diagnosing which types of cancer? (select all that apply)

A) Colon
B) Breast
C) Skin
D) Bladder
E) Prostate

Answer 3

Colon
Breast
Bladder
Prostate

Question 4

What comorbid condition does an individual diagnosed with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome have an increased risk of developing?

A) Cancer
B) Diabetes
C) Depression
D) Food allergies

Question 5

When considering abnormal epigenetic modifications, what factor is currently being viewed as strongly associated with the development of some cancers?

A) Family genetics
B) Lifestyle choices
C) Environmental stressors
D) Emotional coping skills

Question 6

What characteristic of Prader-Willi syndrome is not a characteristic of Angelman syndrome?

A) It is inherited from the father.
B) Mental retardation is observable.
C) Imprinting of an abnormal chromosome 15.
D) Seizure disorder is present.

Question 7

Research has demonstrated that neural stem cells have an impaired ability to differentiate into functional neurons when subjected to:

A) ethanol.
B) marijuana.
C) insufficient nutrients.
D) poor oxygenation.

Question 8

Which embryonic stem cell characteristic is referred to as totipotent?

A) Ability to differentiate into any type of somatic cell.
B) Ability to repair its own damaged DNA.
C) Ability to determine which parental chromosome copy it will imprint.
D) Ability to minimize the impact of poor in utero nutrition.

Question 9

Research has provided support for the theory that epigenetic modifications can result from deficient in utero nutrition causing which chronic disease? (select all that apply)

A) Obesity
B) Asthma
C) Cardiovascular disease
D) Diabetes
E) Crohn's disease

Question 10

During which stage of human development does the role of epigenetics have the greatest impact on the development of epigenetic abnormalities?

A) Infancy
B) Puberty
C) In utero
D) Middle age

Question 11

Housekeeping genes are vital to the function and maintenance of all the body's cells.What characteristic is associated with these genes?

A) They lack encoding histones.
B) They are transcriptionally active.
C) Ribosomal RNA genes are absent.
D) Epigenetic silencing has occurred.