Bio4241 - Final exam questions, 2016

Tuesday, 12 April, 9-11A, Sn-1019

Instructions:
I will select five of the following questions. Answer any three: you may not answer the question pertaining to your own group's presentation. Your answers for each must fit on the front and back of one lined sheet of paper.
See Supporting Materials for figures that will be available during the exam


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SMC: With reference to Figure 1.1 in Gibson (2015), compare and contrast the Mendelian Model versus the Infinitesimal Model as explanations for human genetic diseases. How do the RAME and CD-CV Models differ from the two main models?


Group 1 – The Human Genome Project has identified exactly 20,051 "genes" in the human genome. Why is this number unexpected? Describe some of the reasons humans are able to get by with so few "genes."


SMC - Explain the concepts of Most Recent Common Ancestor and Coalescence in terms of the "Mitochondrial Eve".

 

Group 2 – Sketch the historical origins and spread of indigenous Africans, Europeans, East Asians, and North and South Americans. Why do anthropologists talk about "Continental Groups" rather than "Races" ?

 

Group 3 - Height is historically one of the most highly Heritable human traits. Describe the basis in "normal genetic variation" of variation in height as revealed by the Human Genome Project. How can this variation be reconciled with its classical heritability?

 

Group 5 – Explain the nature of a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS). In Figure 6.1, describe the principles features of the WTCCC GWAS studies as illustrated for Type 2 Diabetes

 

Group 6 & 7 – Explain the construction of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), specifically ABT's GMO Salmon. Compare the stated commercial advantages of GMO Salmon with respect to other GMO species, for example Round-Up ready corn.

 

SMC: Explain the difference between the concept of Heritability and Mendelian inheritance. Answer the question at [http://www.mun.ca/biology/scarr/Biol4241_Heritability_&_Environment.html]

 



All text material ©2016 by Steven M. Carr