NR507 Midterm Exam Questions With
Verified And Updated Answers
What is epigenetics? - answer✔The study of heritable changes in gene expression or phenotype casued
by mechanisms *other* than changes in DNA sequences.
DNA methylation - answer✔The attachment of a methyl group to a cytosine base is followed by a
guanine base...causes a gene to become transcriptionally inactive or silent.
Epigenetic processes play a major role in cancer initiation, progression, and treatment. Evidence: 20% of
people with no inherited form of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) did not have a mutation but rather genes
were silenced by epigenetic hypermethylation.
Histone modification - answer✔Adding chemical modifications to proteins called histones that are
involved in packaging DNA
Micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs or miRs) - answer✔RNAs that are coded by short DNA sequences that
can regulate gene expression networks.
Prader-Willi Syndrome - answer✔Deletion of 4 million base pairs of the long arm of chromosome 15;
paternally inherited. Features: short statue, hypotonia, small hands and feet, obesity, mild to moderate
mental retardation, and hypogonadism. 1 in 15,000 live births.
Angelman Syndrome - answer✔Deletion of 4 million base pairs of the long arm of chromosome 15,
maternally inheritedn. Features: severe mental retardation, seizures, and an ataxic gate. Q1 in 15,000
live births.
MLH1 & Colon Cancer - answer✔Major cause of one form of colon cancer (hereditary nonpolyposis
colorectal cancer [HNPCC] or Lynch syndrome) when the methylation of the promoter region of the
gene occurs. The protein product of this gene repairs damage to DNA. When this gene becomes inactive,
damaged DNA accumulates, eventually resulting in colon tumors.
Inflammation & Cancer - answer✔Inflammatory and immune response may create a local environment
in which cells can develop into a malignant phenotype and may even benefit progression and spread of
malignancies. Chronic inflammation has been recognized for close to 150 years as being an important
factor, even predisposing us to the development of cancer. Some organs are more susceptible to cancer
than others: GI tract, prostate, thyroid gland, pancreas, urinary bladder, pleura, and skin.
Both cancer and inflammation elicit inflammatory cells including neutrophils, lymphocytes, and
macrophages to migrate to the site of injury and release cytokines and growth factors that stimulate
local cell proliferation and new blood vessel growth to promote wound healing by tissue remodeling.
Chronic inflammation means continued proliferation of the previous inflammatory response.
Successful tumors appear capable of manipulating cells of the inflammatory and immune response
towards the phenotypes associated with wound healing and tissue regeneration, which is a process that
includes induction of cellular proliferation, neovascularization, and local immune suppression. These
activities benefit cancer progression, as well as increase resistance to chemotherapeutic agents.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) - answer✔Promote mutations and block the cellular response to DNA
damage
COX-2 - answer✔Generates prostaglandins during acute inflammation. Associated with colon and some
other cancers. Long-term high-dose use of NSAIDSs than inhibit COX-2 can reduce the risk of colon
cancer by as much as 20%.
H. pylori & Gastric Cancer - answer✔Chronic infection with H. Pylori is an important cause of peptic
ulcer disease and is strongly associated with gastric carcinoma, a leading cause of cancer deaths
worldwide. Other cancers include gastric adenocarcinoma, and MALT lymphomas. H. pylori can also
directly and indirectly produce genetic and epigenetic changes in infected stomachs. Mutations in p53
and methylation of specific genes.
Epigenetics & Cancer - answer✔Preventing epigenetic factors can theoretically prevent cancer. The the
interface of environment and genetics is chronic inflammation. Inflammation has been linked with
increased DNA methylation, an epigenetic alteration.
Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN) - answer✔An acquired congenital hemolytic anemia, an
alloimmune disorder in which maternal blood and fetal blood are antigenically incompatible, causing the
mother's immune system to produce antibodies against fetal erythrocytes.
Alloimmunity - answer✔(sometimes called isoimmunity) is an immune response to nonself antigens
from members of the same species
Iron Deficiency Anemia - answer✔Most common blood disorder in infancy and childhood, especially
between 6 months to 2 years. Not related to gender or race, but socioeconomic factors are important
because they affect nutrition
RH Factor - answer✔If Mom is Rh-negative and baby is positive, whenever there is a mixing of maternal
and fetal blood (particularly at birth when the placenta detaches and the mother is exposed to fetal
blood) the mother's body will create anti-Rh antibodies which affects subsequent pregnancies. However,
the capacity of the mother's immune system to produce anti-Rh antibodies depends on many factors,
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