1.5 Evolution of Hormonal Pathways

Question 1

What are splice variants?

Answer 1

Splice variants are products of the same gene with alternate exons.

Question 2

Define allele.

Answer 2

Versions of the same gene within a species (e.g. LDHa)

Question 3

Define ortholog.

Answer 3

The same gene in two species (e.g. human LDHa vs rat LDHa)

Question 4

Define paralogs.

Answer 4

Paralogs are duplicates of a gene within a species (e.g. rat LDHa vs rat LDHb)

Question 5

Which receptor is a homodimer and what does this mean?

Answer 5

Insulin receptors are dimers. A homodimer is a dimer (a molecule or molecular complex consisting of two identical molecules linked together) of the same two proteins.