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SCHOOL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY – THE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY – VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – HCMC STUDENT ID:………………………………………………………

MIDTERM EXAMINATION – BIOLOGY

Date: Nov 2, 2021 (Tuesday)
Room Number:
Duration: 90 minutes

Student ID: ...BTFTIU20080............. Name:.....Trần Ngọc Hà .............

SUBJECT: BIOLOGY (BT155IU)

Dean of School of Biotechnology Lecturer Proctor Score
Signature: Signature:

Full name: Full name:

BÙI HỒNG THỦY (Sign and write
full name)

GENERAL INSTRUCTION(S)

1. This is opened book test

2. No talking during the exam

GOOD LUCK!

Answer on the question sheets:

1) Compare the structure and functions of microtubules, microfilaments, and intermediate filaments.
What happens if microtubules and microfilaments are absent in the cell? (20 points)

The structure of microtubules is hollow rods with a diameter 25 nm with 15-nm lumen. This
structure is built from a globular protein named tubulin which include two slightly different
polypeptides, α-tubulin, and β-tubulin. Microtubules exist in all eukaryotic cells.

Figure 1. The structure of microtubules, Campbell edition 10th

Microfilaments or actin filaments also present in all eukaryotic cells. They are thin solid rods with a
diameter 7 nm and built from molecules of actin, a globular protein. Each microfilament is a double chain
of actin subunits. Beside the linear structure microfilaments can form branch between certain proteins along
a side of such a filament and allow a new filament.
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Figure 2 The structure of Microfilaments, Campbell edition 10th

Intermediate filaments are larger than the diameter of microfilaments but smaller than that of
microtubules with a diameter 8–12 nm. The structure of intermediate filaments made from fibrous
proteins coiled into cables and one of several different proteins (such as keratins).

Figure 3 The structure of Intermediate filaments, Campbell edition 10th

These of three structures have an important role on maintaining of cell shape.
Microtubule’s shape and support the cell by compression-resisting “girders”. Microtubules guide vesicles
from the ER to the Golgi apparatus and from the Golgi to the plasma membrane. Microtubules are also
involved in the separation of chromosomes during cell division. Microtubules also control cell motility as in
cilia or flagella.
Microfilament maintain the shape by tension-bearing elements and can changes in cell shape; muscle
contraction; cytoplasmic streaming in plant cells; cell motility (as in amoeboid movement); division of
animal cells
Like microfilament, Intermediate filament maintenance of cell shape by tension-bearing elements) and
anchorage of nucleus and certain other organelles. Beside that it plays a role in formation of nuclear lamina
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If there no present microtubules, microfilament, the shape of cell cannot maintain. Beside that it impact on
division of animal cell, the movement of
2) Name the three stages of cellular respiration; for each, state the region of the eukaryotic cell where it
occurs and the products that result. Then, present your knowledge about Mitochondrial Replacement
Therapy (MRT) for treatment of Mitochondrial Diseases. (20 points)

Three stages of cellular respiration are Glycosis, Krebs cycle and Respiratory electron transport chain
Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm. At the end of glycolysis, the glucose molecule (6 carbons) is split into
2 molecules of pyruvic acid (3 carbons). During this process the cell obtains 2 molecules of ATP and 2
molecules of NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide).
In fact, glycolysis makes 4 ATP molecules, but since 2 ATP molecules are used to activate glucose in the
early stages of glycolysis, the cell can only get 2 ATP molecules.
After being formed by glycolysis, 2 molecules of pyruvic acid will be transferred to the mitochondrial
matrix. There, they are converted into smaller molecules called acetyl-CoA. It is this acetyl-CoA molecule
that will enter the Krebs cycle.
In addition, the conversion of 2 molecules of pyruvic acid also produces 2 molecules of NADH and releases
2 molecules of CO2. At the end of the Krebs cycle, the acetyl-CoA molecules will be completely degraded
to CO2.
In addition to CO2, the Krebs cycle also produces molecules of NADH, FADH2, (flavin adenine
dinucleotide) and ATP.
The respiratory electron transport chain takes place in the inner mitochondrial membrane. During this
phase, the NADH and FADH2 molecules produced in the previous stages are oxidized through a series of
redox reactions. In the final reaction, oxygen is reduced to give water.
The energy released from the oxidation of these NADH and FADH2 molecules will be used to synthesize
ATP molecules. This is the stage when the cell gets the most ATP.

3) Describe the events that characterize each phase of meiosis and three events that occur during meiosis I
but not mitosis. Compare the major difference between meiosis in sperm and oocyte. (20 points)
Prophase is the first step of mitosis in animal cells, and the second step of mitosis in plant cells. At the
beginning of prophase, there are two identical copies of mitosis. each chromosome in the cell because
replication has taken place in interphase. These copies are called sister chromatids and are held by a part of
DNA called the centromere.
Metaphase is a phase of mitosis in the cell cycle of eukaryotes in which the chromosomes are in their
second maximal contraction (they are at their maximum in the latter). These chromosomes that carry genetic
information line up at the cell's axis before being split into one of the two daughter cells.
Anaphase is a phase of mitosis after meiosis when the copy chromosomes are separated, and the daughter
chromatids are moved to opposite poles of the cell. Chromosomes also reach their maximum global
solidification at the end of prophase, to aid chromosome segregation and nuclear re-formation.
At the end stage, the polar microtubules continue to repel each other, causing the cell to elongate even
more. In the event that the nuclear membrane is destroyed, a new nuclear membrane will be formed using
fragments of the old nuclear membrane of the parent cell. A new nuclear membrane will form around each
separate set of daughter chromosomes (although the membrane does not include the centrosomes) and the
daughter nucleus reappears. Both sets of chromosomes, now surrounded by a new nuclear membrane, begin
to "unfold" or de-twist.

4)Describe replicating at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomal DNA. How telomerase enzymes lengthen
telomeres? Present your knowledge about roles of telomeres and telomerase in cancer and aging? (20
points)
The first is that this mechanism used by mobile organisms. In this mechanism, once the two strands
are separated, primase adds an RNA primer to the template strand. The leading strand receives an
RNA primer while the lagging strand receives some. The continuous lead strand is elongated from the
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primer by a highly processed DNA polymerase, while the lagged strand is extended discontinuously
from each primer forming Okazaki fragments. The RNase removes the primer RNA fragments, and a
low-processing DNA polymerase other than the clone polymerase enters to fill the gap. When this is
complete, a single stain can be found on the parent vessel and several on the other. Ligase works to
fill these spots, thus completing the newly duplicated DNA molecule.
First Telomeres bonded with specific proteins to prevent the staggered ends of the daughter molecule
from activating the cell’s systems for monitoring DNA damage. Second, telomeric DNA acts as a
kind of buffer zone that provides some protection against the organism’s genes shortening, somewhat
like how the plastic-wrapped ends of a shoelace slow its unraveling. However, telomeres do not
prevent the erosion of genes near the ends of chromosomes; they merely postpone it
Normal shortening of telomeres may protect organisms from cancer by limiting the number of
divisions that somatic cells can undergo. Cells from large tumors often have unusually short
telomeres, as we would expect for cells that have undergone many cell divisions. Further shortening
would presumably lead to self-destruction of the tumor cells. Telomerase activity is abnormally high
in cancerous somatic cells, suggesting that its ability to stabilize telomere length may allow these
cancer cells to persist. Many cancer cells do seem capable of unlimited cell division, as do immortal
strains of cultured cells.
5) What is epigenetic Inheritance? Explain how histone acetylation affect chromatin structure and the
regulation of transcription. Present your knowledge about clinical applications of epigenetics in human
disease. (20 points)
Epigenetic Inheritance is the inheritance of traits transmitted by mechanisms not involving the nucleotide
sequence itself. While DNA mutant are permanent changes
When histones are acetylated, chromatin opens, and genes activate. when histones are deacetylated,
chromatin closes and inactivated genes. The degree of histone bridge acetylation maintains a stable
balance between HAT (Histone Acetyltransferase) and HDAC (Histone Deacetylase)
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