Li-Fraumeni & Cancer Genetics
100 — What is the normal role of the p53 gene?
Answer: It controls the cell cycle and prevents damaged cells from dividing
100 — Proteins are large, complex molecules built from smaller building blocks made of what?
Answer: Amino Acids
100 — Which process makes 2 genetically identical cells?
Answer: Mitosis
100 — What is a pedigree?
Answer: A diagram showing inheritance patterns in families
100 — What aquatic animal has 3 hearts & blue blood?
Answer: Octopus
200 — What is Li-Fraumeni Syndrome?
Answer: An inherited disorder linked to mutations in the p53 gene that increases cancer risk
200 — What is the complementary DNA strand to A-T-G-C-C-A?
Answer: T-A-C-G-G-T
200 — Which process creates 4 haploid gametes?
Answer: Meiosis
200 — What are different versions of a gene called?
Answer: Alleles
200 — What is the oldest (microscopic) life form on the planet?
Answer: Bacteria
300 — Why do mutations in p53 increase cancer risk?
Answer: Damaged cells continue dividing uncontrollably, not regulated
300 — What is transcription?
Answer: The process of making mRNA from DNA
300 — What happens during crossing over?
Answer: Chromosomes exchange DNA segments
300 — Why can inherited disorders appear across multiple generations?
Answer: Mutated alleles are passed from parents to offspring
300 — What is the largest ocean on Earth?
Answer: Pacific Ocean
400 —Why does cancer risk often increase with age?
Answer: Mutations accumulate over time through repeated cell divisions
400 — What is the complementary mRNA strand to A-T-G-C-C-A?
Answer: U-A-C-G-G-U
400 — Why does meiosis increase genetic diversity?
Answer: Crossing over and independent assortment create variation
400 — Why are siblings genetically different from one another?
Answer: They inherit different combinations of alleles
400 — What bug tastes with its feet?
Answer: Butterflies
500 — What is the role of BRCA1?
Answer: It helps repair damaged DNA, when damaged leads to increased risk of breast/skin cancer
500 — Why can mutations change protein function?
Answer: They change amino acid sequences and protein shape (like p53 not fitting)
500 — Compare mitosis and meiosis.
Answer: Mitosis makes identical body cells; meiosis makes genetically unique gametes
500 — Explain how crossing over can create recombinant chromosomes.
Answer: DNA segments are exchanged between homologous chromosomes, creating new allele combinations
500 — What percentage of your cells are human vs non-human (like bacteria/microbes)
Answer: 50%