Question 1

Mutations in the encoding of histone-modifying proteins have been shown to influence the development of what congenial condition?

Accepted Answer

Mutations in the encoding of histone-modifying proteins have been shown to influence the development of congenital heart disease.

Question 2

What characteristic of Prader-Willi syndrome is not a characteristic of Angelman syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Prader-Willi syndrome is typically inherited from the father due to a deletion or uniparental disomy on chromosome 15, whereas Angelman syndrome is inherited from the mother.

Question 3

What comorbid condition does an individual diagnosed with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome have an increased risk of developing?

Accepted Answer

Individuals with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome have an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer, particularly childhood cancers such as Wilms tumor and hepatoblastoma.

Question 4

Research has provided support for the theory that epigenetic modifications can result from deficient in utero nutrition causing which chronic disease? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Epigenetic modifications due to poor in utero nutrition have been linked to an increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes in later life. These conditions are influenced by changes in gene expression that can result from nutritional deficiencies during fetal development.

Question 5

Which embryonic stem cell characteristic is referred to as totipotent?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which embryonic stem cell characteristic is referred...

Question 6

Screening tools that are epigenetically based have shown promise in diagnosing which types of cancer? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Epigenetically based screening tools have shown promise in diagnosing colon, breast, bladder, and prostate cancers due to the presence of specific epigenetic markers associated with these types of cancer.

Question 7

Housekeeping genes are vital to the function and maintenance of all the body's cells.What characteristic is associated with these genes?

Accepted Answer

Housekeeping genes are transcriptionally active because they are required for the basic maintenance of cellular function and are expressed in all cells of an organism.

Question 8

What is the role of inactive MLH1 in the development of some forms of inherited colon cancer?

Accepted Answer

Inactive MLH1 leads to a failure in the DNA mismatch repair system, resulting in DNA damage being left unrepaired, which can contribute to the development of inherited colon cancer.

Question 9

During which stage of human development does the role of epigenetics have the greatest impact on the development of epigenetic abnormalities?

Accepted Answer

During the in utero stage, the developing fetus is highly susceptible to epigenetic changes due to environmental factors, which can lead to long-lasting epigenetic abnormalities.

Question 10

Research has demonstrated that neural stem cells have an impaired ability to differentiate into functional neurons when subjected to:

Accepted Answer

Ethanol exposure has been shown to impair the differentiation of neural stem cells into functional neurons, affecting brain development and function.

Question 11

When considering abnormal epigenetic modifications, what factor is currently being viewed as strongly associated with the development of some cancers?

Accepted Answer

Environmental stressors can lead to abnormal epigenetic modifications, which are strongly associated with the development of some cancers.

Quiz 3: Epigenetics and Disease