Radioactive isotopes are used to tag proteins in the cell membranes of mouse cells. These cells are then fused with human cells in cultures. What is the likely outcome of the tagged mouse proteins?
A) The tagged proteins remain in the mouse cells and keep their position on the membrane.
B) The tagged proteins remain in mouse cells but move anywhere across the mouse cell membrane.
C) The tagged proteins drift across cell membranes and are soon found dispersed across both human and mouse cell membranes.
D) None of the answer choices will occur since mouse cell membranes are unlike human cell membranes.
E) None of the answer choices will occur since radioactive cells will soon die.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The radioactive isotopes will tag the proteins in the cell membranes of the mouse cells. When these cells are fused with human cells in cultures, the tagged proteins will most likely drift across cell membranes and eventually become dispersed across both human and mouse cell membranes. This is because the fusion will result in a mix of both mouse and human cell membranes, allowing the tagged proteins to move across both types of membranes.

Radioactive Isotopes Are Used to Tag Proteins in the Cell