DNA methylation, histone modification, and epigenetic inheritance concepts tested at the introductory genetics level.
30 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What is the general definition of epigenetics?
- Heritable changes in gene expression that occur without altering the underlying DNA sequence
- What term describes the complete set of epigenetic modifications present in a cell?
- The epigenome
- What chemical modification involves adding a methyl group to cytosine bases, typically at CpG dinucleotides?
- DNA methylation
- What is the general effect of DNA methylation on a promoter region's gene expression?
- It typically silences (represses) gene expression
- What term describes clusters of CpG dinucleotides often found near gene promoters that are important sites of methylation regulation?
- CpG islands
- What enzyme family adds methyl groups to DNA to establish or maintain methylation patterns?
- DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs)
- What is the resulting chemical product when a methyl group is added to cytosine in DNA?
- 5-methylcytosine
- What histone modification generally loosens chromatin structure and is associated with increased gene expression?
- Histone acetylation
- What enzyme adds acetyl groups to histones, generally activating gene transcription?
- Histone acetyltransferase (HAT)
- What enzyme removes acetyl groups from histones, generally leading to gene silencing?
- Histone deacetylase (HDAC)
- Can histone methylation either activate or repress gene expression depending on which residue is modified?
- Yes, unlike acetylation, histone methylation's effect on expression depends on the specific amino acid residue and degree of methylation
- What term describes loosely packed, transcriptionally active chromatin?
- Euchromatin
- What term describes tightly packed, transcriptionally silent chromatin?
- Heterochromatin
- What process involves ATP-dependent complexes repositioning nucleosomes to change DNA accessibility?
- Chromatin remodeling
- What X-linked epigenetic process randomly silences one of the two X chromosomes in each cell of a female mammal?
- X-chromosome inactivation
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