Bio 431 Exam 1 Questions with
Correct Answers
If gene expression patterns control differentiation, each differentiated cell must have
a distinct set of genes that are expressed or suppressed. This produces a set of
proteins that colaborate to create that specific cells' ___. - ANSWER-phenotype
What do gene expression arrays do? - ANSWER-Can now survey expression of
1000s of genes within a given cell type.
Compare normal to disease and give you an idea of molecular targets/ mutations
that might be associated with the disease
What is genetic polymorphism? - ANSWER-Functionally silent differences in DNA
sequence between individuals.
Euploid? Aneuploid?
Which is seen more often in cancer? - ANSWER-Normal= euploid
Abnormal= aneuploid
Aneuploidy seen more in cancer
Germline mutation?
Somatic mutation? - ANSWER-Germline mutation: mutation in sperm or egg (or
precursors) and will be passed onto offspring.
Somatic mutation: not transmitted to offspring, passed on to all descendent cells
(clones. Some due to failure of repair mechanisms
Ex's of germline and somatic mutation? - ANSWER-Germline: you inherit a cancer
susceptibility gene from a parent.
Somatic: your DNA is mutated in certain cells by exposure to a carcinogen
What are three factors that control gene expression? - ANSWER-Promoter,
enhancer, TFs
What do TFs do? - ANSWER-Coordinate expression of large groups of genes while
repressing others.
They bind DNA in control regions of genes and determine TC.
Pleiptropy? - ANSWER-TF can affect expression of many genes --> one gene
influences two or more seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits
Maintenance of normal tissue homeostasis requires cells to be __ and __. -
ANSWER-organized and regulated
,What if normal tissue homeostasis goes wrong? - ANSWER-Cells access
inappropriate information from genomes OR damage to genome (mutation) can lead
to abnormal phenotype and loss of control.
Tumor cells have lost the ability to ___. Evidenced by __. - ANSWER-Lost ability to
assemble and create tissues of normal form and function.
Evidenced by histology/ histopathology
Tumors arise from? Can tumors move? - ANSWER-Arise from normal tissue and
can move from within the body.
Primary tumor? Metastases? - ANSWER-Primary tumor: site where cancer began.
Metastases: new settlements/ colonies of tumor.
Naming cancers:
Adeno-, chondro-, erythro-, hemangio-, hepato-, lipo-, lympho-, melano-, myelo-,
myo-, osteo- - ANSWER-
What are the two broad categories of a tumor? - ANSWER-Benign
Malignant
3 characteristics of bengin tumors - ANSWER-Grows locally, does not invade
adjacent tissues.
Most primary tumors in humans are benign and har harmless.
They can become harmful if large mass of tumor presses on vital organs/ tissues OR
physiologic imbalance caused by release of high levels of hormones
2 characteristics of malignant tumors - ANSWER-Invade nearby tissues/ blood
vessels and metastasize
Responsible for 90% of deaths from cancer
Tumors are classified according to? - ANSWER-Origin
Epithelia are? - ANSWER-Sheets of lining walls of cavities/ channels. They are
similar in structure in all tissues.
Why might these cells be more prone to cancer? - ANSWER-
What lies underneath the epithelial tissues? - ANSWER-Basal lamina
What is basal lamina assembled from? What is basal lamina? - ANSWER-It is
assembled from proteins secreted by epithelial cells. It is a specialized type of ECM
that provides structural scaffolding
What is underneath the basal lamina? - ANSWER-Stroma
What is stroma? Examples? - ANSWER-Stroma is support CT and cells
Ex: fibroblasts, immune cells, pericytes
What anchors BM to ECM of stroma? - ANSWER-Collagen fibers
, What is carcinomas? - ANSWER-Cancers derived from epithelial cells
Most common human cancer? - ANSWER-Carcinoma
Epithelial layers are found where? - ANSWER-Skin , ovary, lung, etc
Name two categories based on epithelial function - ANSWER-Squamous cell
carcinomas
Adenocarcinomas
T/F A few carcinomas do not fall into either of these 2 categories? - ANSWER-T
How do tumors of squamous cell carcinomas arise?
Ex? - ANSWER-They arise from epithelial sheets that seal the cavity or channel they
line, and protect the underlying cell populations.
Ex: skin and esophagus
How do tumors of adenocarcinomas arise?
Ex? - ANSWER-They arise from specialized epithelial cells that secret substances
into the ducts or cavities they line. Secreted products include protect mucus layers.
Ex: lung, uterus, cervix, stomach
What the three non epithelial categories tumors are classified in? - ANSWER-
Connective- sarcomas
Hematopoietic tissue- leukemia and lymphoma
Nervous system- neuroectodermal tumors
What is the name of cancer category that tumors are placed in if hard to classify? -
ANSWER-Melanoma
Sarcoma is derived from what cell type?
Ex: - ANSWER-Mesenchymal cells
Ex: Adipocytes, osteoblasts, myocytes, fibroblasts
What is leukemia? - ANSWER-Uncontrolled expansion of WBC (T cell, B cell,
monocytes)
Move freely through circulation, single cell population of tumor
Lymphoma tumors arise from what cells?
Aggregate to form what?
Congregate where? - ANSWER-B and T lymphocytes
To form a solid tumor mass
Congregate in lymph nodes
Neuroectodermal tumors arise from what kind of cells?
Ex? - ANSWER-Arise from cells of CNS and PNS
Ex: Glimoas, glioblastomas, neuroblastomas
Correct Answers
If gene expression patterns control differentiation, each differentiated cell must have
a distinct set of genes that are expressed or suppressed. This produces a set of
proteins that colaborate to create that specific cells' ___. - ANSWER-phenotype
What do gene expression arrays do? - ANSWER-Can now survey expression of
1000s of genes within a given cell type.
Compare normal to disease and give you an idea of molecular targets/ mutations
that might be associated with the disease
What is genetic polymorphism? - ANSWER-Functionally silent differences in DNA
sequence between individuals.
Euploid? Aneuploid?
Which is seen more often in cancer? - ANSWER-Normal= euploid
Abnormal= aneuploid
Aneuploidy seen more in cancer
Germline mutation?
Somatic mutation? - ANSWER-Germline mutation: mutation in sperm or egg (or
precursors) and will be passed onto offspring.
Somatic mutation: not transmitted to offspring, passed on to all descendent cells
(clones. Some due to failure of repair mechanisms
Ex's of germline and somatic mutation? - ANSWER-Germline: you inherit a cancer
susceptibility gene from a parent.
Somatic: your DNA is mutated in certain cells by exposure to a carcinogen
What are three factors that control gene expression? - ANSWER-Promoter,
enhancer, TFs
What do TFs do? - ANSWER-Coordinate expression of large groups of genes while
repressing others.
They bind DNA in control regions of genes and determine TC.
Pleiptropy? - ANSWER-TF can affect expression of many genes --> one gene
influences two or more seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits
Maintenance of normal tissue homeostasis requires cells to be __ and __. -
ANSWER-organized and regulated
,What if normal tissue homeostasis goes wrong? - ANSWER-Cells access
inappropriate information from genomes OR damage to genome (mutation) can lead
to abnormal phenotype and loss of control.
Tumor cells have lost the ability to ___. Evidenced by __. - ANSWER-Lost ability to
assemble and create tissues of normal form and function.
Evidenced by histology/ histopathology
Tumors arise from? Can tumors move? - ANSWER-Arise from normal tissue and
can move from within the body.
Primary tumor? Metastases? - ANSWER-Primary tumor: site where cancer began.
Metastases: new settlements/ colonies of tumor.
Naming cancers:
Adeno-, chondro-, erythro-, hemangio-, hepato-, lipo-, lympho-, melano-, myelo-,
myo-, osteo- - ANSWER-
What are the two broad categories of a tumor? - ANSWER-Benign
Malignant
3 characteristics of bengin tumors - ANSWER-Grows locally, does not invade
adjacent tissues.
Most primary tumors in humans are benign and har harmless.
They can become harmful if large mass of tumor presses on vital organs/ tissues OR
physiologic imbalance caused by release of high levels of hormones
2 characteristics of malignant tumors - ANSWER-Invade nearby tissues/ blood
vessels and metastasize
Responsible for 90% of deaths from cancer
Tumors are classified according to? - ANSWER-Origin
Epithelia are? - ANSWER-Sheets of lining walls of cavities/ channels. They are
similar in structure in all tissues.
Why might these cells be more prone to cancer? - ANSWER-
What lies underneath the epithelial tissues? - ANSWER-Basal lamina
What is basal lamina assembled from? What is basal lamina? - ANSWER-It is
assembled from proteins secreted by epithelial cells. It is a specialized type of ECM
that provides structural scaffolding
What is underneath the basal lamina? - ANSWER-Stroma
What is stroma? Examples? - ANSWER-Stroma is support CT and cells
Ex: fibroblasts, immune cells, pericytes
What anchors BM to ECM of stroma? - ANSWER-Collagen fibers
, What is carcinomas? - ANSWER-Cancers derived from epithelial cells
Most common human cancer? - ANSWER-Carcinoma
Epithelial layers are found where? - ANSWER-Skin , ovary, lung, etc
Name two categories based on epithelial function - ANSWER-Squamous cell
carcinomas
Adenocarcinomas
T/F A few carcinomas do not fall into either of these 2 categories? - ANSWER-T
How do tumors of squamous cell carcinomas arise?
Ex? - ANSWER-They arise from epithelial sheets that seal the cavity or channel they
line, and protect the underlying cell populations.
Ex: skin and esophagus
How do tumors of adenocarcinomas arise?
Ex? - ANSWER-They arise from specialized epithelial cells that secret substances
into the ducts or cavities they line. Secreted products include protect mucus layers.
Ex: lung, uterus, cervix, stomach
What the three non epithelial categories tumors are classified in? - ANSWER-
Connective- sarcomas
Hematopoietic tissue- leukemia and lymphoma
Nervous system- neuroectodermal tumors
What is the name of cancer category that tumors are placed in if hard to classify? -
ANSWER-Melanoma
Sarcoma is derived from what cell type?
Ex: - ANSWER-Mesenchymal cells
Ex: Adipocytes, osteoblasts, myocytes, fibroblasts
What is leukemia? - ANSWER-Uncontrolled expansion of WBC (T cell, B cell,
monocytes)
Move freely through circulation, single cell population of tumor
Lymphoma tumors arise from what cells?
Aggregate to form what?
Congregate where? - ANSWER-B and T lymphocytes
To form a solid tumor mass
Congregate in lymph nodes
Neuroectodermal tumors arise from what kind of cells?
Ex? - ANSWER-Arise from cells of CNS and PNS
Ex: Glimoas, glioblastomas, neuroblastomas
