Last Name & Student ID# ______________________GROUP: ___________

BIO212 LAB-8 (Open Book): Chromosomal Abnormalities & Expression of

Gene Regulation

1. Below are diagrams/illustrations of Human karyotypes. Describe the expected

phenotype of each of the individual with the given karyotype. (consider ploidy
only, not structural aberrations) (8 marks)

A:________________________________ B:_________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

__________________________________ ___________________________________

C: _________________________________ D: ___________________________________

___________________________________ ____________________________________

2. What caused the abnormal karyotype, (where you believe there is an abnormality)?
________________________________________________________(1 mark)
3. Extra set of chromosomes or genome duplication is rare in animals where it is mostly
lethal, but common in plants. Explain why this is sometimes beneficial to humans?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________(2 marks)

4. Explain why prokaryotes, such as E. coli can adapt quickly when introduced to a new
environment, as compared to eukaryotes?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________(3 marks)

5. An unknown mutation occurred in the LacI gene of E. coli bacteria. The mutation
resulted in production of a repressor protein with only the binding site of the inducer
being altered. What effect will this have on the expression of the three genes of the
lactose of operon?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________(4 marks)

6. In prokaryotes, one gene produces one protein, while in eukaryotes, a single gene can
produce more than one protein. Explain.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ (4 marks)

7. Eukaryotic primary RNA transcript goes through modifications such as 5’ CAP, 3’ poly-A
addition and splicing. Why are these modifications necessary?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________ (3 marks)

8. Why does chromatin remodeling occur in eukaryotes but not in prokaryotes?

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

9. Name three types of regulatory molecules that can affect the expression of operons in
prokaryotes.
______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________ (3 marks)
MARKING KEY
1. Below are diagrams/pictures of Human karyotypes. Describe the expected
phenotype of each of the individual with the given karyotype. (consider ploidy
only, not structural aberrations) (8 marks)

A:_Female, X-, Turner Syndrome. B: Female, Normal

Missing one X chrom, sterile, short,

wedged neck, heart conditions,

C: Female, Down Syndrome, extra D: Male, Klinefelter Syndrome, 47-XXY,

Chromo21, eyes wide apart, short, low IQ, small testis, might be infertile. feminine
characteristics (wide heaps, develop
breasts, thinner shoulders)

2. What caused the abnormal karyotype, (where you believe there is an abnormality)?
____non-disjunction during meiosis___________________ (1 mark)

3. Extra set of chromosomes or genome duplication is rare in animals where it is mostly

lethal, but common in plants. Explain why this is sometimes beneficial to humans?
_If it is in edible plants such as potatoes, etc, they will be bigger/larger
produce__________(2 marks)
4. Explain why prokaryotes, such as E. coli can adapt quickly when introduced to a new
environment, as compared to eukaryotes?
_in prokaryotes, related genes are clustered into operons (controlled by one
promoter), can be turned on or off simultaneously leading to a quicker response.
Eukaryotic individual genes have individual promoter, response is slower__(3
marks)

5. An unknown mutation occurred in the LacI gene of E. coli bacteria. The mutation
resulted in production of a repressor protein with only the binding site of the inducer
being altered. What effect will this have on the expression of the three genes of the
lactose of operon? _The mutated repressor will not bind the inducer/allolactose
even when lactose is present in the environment. The repressor protein will be
bound to the operator continuously and thus the operon will be switched off
continuously. The 3 genes will not be expressed_(4 marks)

6. In prokaryotes, one gene produces one protein, while in eukaryotes, a single gene can
produce more than one protein. Explain. Prokaryotes mRNA is all coding, while
eukaryotes primary mRNA script has introns and exons, and therefore splicing
must occur. Splicing can take place at different sites along the mRNA (Alternative
splicing) leading to more than one gene product/protein_ (4 marks)

7. Eukaryotic primary RNA transcript goes through modifications such as 5’ CAP, 3’ poly-A
addition and splicing. Why are these modifications necessary? __5’ CAP and 3’ poly-A
tail protects primary RNA transcript from degradation, stabilizes the primary RNA
transcript during transport out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm, and aids in
translation initiation. Splicing removes introns, exons which are coding joined
together. (3 marks)

8. Why does chromatin remodeling occur in eukaryotes but not in prokaryotes? ___DNA in
eukaryotes is packed/condensed into chromatids. Remodeling allows genes to be
switched on or off. Prokaryotic DNA/genome is not condensed/packed into
chromatids__ (2 marks)

9. Name three types of regulatory molecules that can affect the expression of operons in
prokaryotes. __Inducers, activators, repressors___ (3 marks)