Essay question
1) Explain how the Indian Leaf butterfly came to look like an old leaf. Your essay should
illustrate the theory of natural selection and discuss why evolution is still controversial in
the US.
29) Describe anatomical, physiological, and behavioral adaptations of ground
squirrels to living in a cold climate.
2) Compare and contrast hydrogen, ionic, and covalent bonds. Include a definition
of each bond, explain between which kinds of atoms each bond forms, and
compare the strength of the different bonds. Give examples where applicable,
highlighting the significance of these different bonds for life
3) Describe enzyme action and regulation. Include: how do enzymes work;
factors that influence enzyme activity; why is regulation of enzyme activity
crucial; mechanisms that cells use to regulate enzyme activity
4) Describe the function and synthesis of glucocerebrosidase. Explain how nonfunctional
glucocerebrosidases can lead to Gaucher’s disease. For full credit you should describe the
subcellular structures mentioned (form and function).
5) 1. Explain how plasma membranes exemplify the following biological key concept:
Complex biological structures have evolved that reflect the complexity of tasks
necessary to sustain life.
2. Describe the protein kinase cascade stimulated by epinephrine (Figure 5.17)
How can it go wrong? What happens if it goes wrong? Explain the usefulness of
protein kinase cascades and mechanisms to shut them down. In order to get full
credit you should give explanations for every step of this pathway. Define all
technical terms you use.
30) To maintain homeostasis, cells must communicate to coordinate life-sustaining
activities. In chapter 5, we explored how cells receive chemical signals and how
binding of a signal molecule can trigger a transduction pathway leading to
responses such as the secretion of HCl, cell division, or the breakdown of
glycogen. In this chapter, we will take a closer look at one class of signaling
molecules, hormones. Review the differences between endocrine, paracrine,
autocrine, synaptic, and neuroendocrine signaling (Fig. 45.2). Know an example
for each.
34) Describe in detail the events happening when an interneuron dendrite gets
excited and passes this excitement on to a muscle cell.
Discuss the seven promoters of learning and the neuronal changes that
happen during learning.
35) Combine your knowledge from chapter 5 about cell signaling, chapter 34 about nerve
impulse transduction and brain regions, and this chapter to explain in detail how
consuming glutamate leads to the perception of an sweet taste in the auditory cortex
OR
How the sound of a musical chord leads to the perception of the chord.
36) Describe in detail how an action potential in a motor neuron is transduced into
the contraction of a muscle fiber.
6) Explain how ATP is produced in the inner mitochondrial membrane with the help of
the respiratory chain
39) Trace the journey of the proteins, trigycerides, or carbohydrates in a garden
burger from the mouth to a molecule of ATP (you might also consult Figure 6.14).
Do not go into detail of glycolysis and aerobic respiration, however, you should
state where those processes take place.
7) Explain how the mitotic cell cycle is regulated and how cancer can arise. Your essay
should include a description of the mitotic cell cycle, but not of the phases of mitosis
itself.
8) Discuss alleles. Explain how they arise and how the interactions of their products lead
to different inheritance pattern. Discuss those patterns.
9) 1. Discuss mutations – how do they arise, how common are they, what are possible
benefits? Distinguish between different types of mutagens and mutations and describe
possible effects. Describe repair mechanisms. For all, give examples where applicable.
2.
Discuss the end-replication problem. Address the following points: why and
where does this problem occur? What are its consequences? How do different cells deal
with this problem? What does this have to do with cancer? Why do recent findings give
us hope for cancer therapy with less side effects?
10) How does a cell express a gene? You should be able to tell the sequence of
steps as summarized in figure 10.3, describe the major actors (template, RNAs,