2.3/4 APPLIED LEC

Question 1

what are mytilus and what is the importance of the glue they produce?

Answer 1

Mytilus are marine mussels

the foot of the mussel secretes a protein fibre consisting of keratin and resinous proteins that create byssus adhesive

this protein adhesive product of translation can be advantageous in other applications, including surgical glue

Question 2

How is the properties of byssus harnessed and why?

Answer 2

genetic engineers place segments of mussel dna in yeast cell to have a factory production of byssus.

byssus can be used in surgical applications for fetuses, dental applications, adhesive manufacturers, and a glue that works in wet environments

Question 3

how can mytilus mussels release from this glue so fast

Answer 3

Neurotransmitters stimulate the cilia that holds the root of the byssus to the mussel with friction, to beat faster and release the frictional hold on the root of the byssus adhesive fibres.

Question 4

What is threatening the mytilus mussels?

Answer 4

Global warming/climate change is warming the water and creating more acidic pH is the ocean which causes the Mytilus to loose their grip.

Question 5

What is the kermode “spirit” bear and why is it signifigant?

Answer 5

• not albino (have pigmented eyes and skin), not a polar bear (doesnt have face shape, thick fur, webbed feet)
• a white subspecies of American black bears
• single nucleotide mutation in mc1r (melanocortin 1 receptor) gene (codon 298, tyrosine to cysteine replacement) modifies protein product of translation responsible for regulating hair and skin colour in animals.
• mutation discovered by Kermit Ritland

Question 6

What is an additional finding of the supplementary article on Kermode bears?

Answer 6

heterozygotes (mask the allele for black bears) in mating pairs in areas with Kermode bears are less frequent

Question 7

What is significant about Eden Atwood and androgen insensitivity?

Answer 7

• she lives with a form of androgen insensitivity
• mutation changing the nucleotide sequence of a single gene coding for androgen receptors (which bind with androgens, testosterone). patient who is genotypically (XY, male), cannot respond to testosterone at a cellular level.
• patients struggle with shame, acceptance, understanding within and with others.