Part 1: Model organisms

Question 1

Why model organisms are used

Answer 1

1) Suited for genetic studies
2) Special features useful for specific genetic or developmental study
3) Model for related species
4) Studies by a large community to share data

Question 2

Examples of common characteristics

Answer 2

• Short generation time
• Large progeny
• Small size
• Inexpensive
• Small genome size
• Carry out process of interest
• Short life cycle

Question 3

What is plasmid and how it is used

Answer 3

It is a small circular DNA that is not a part of chromosomal DNA and replicates independently, used for transformation

Question 4

Advantages of Arabidopsis

Answer 4

Small genome size
Rapid life cycle
Small size
Easy to grow and store
Self-fertilizes
Easy to transform
Related to conola

Question 5

Why it is important to study Arabidopsis

Answer 5

Develop drought & pathogen tolerant plants that require less water and fertilizer, learn about oil synthesis, hormones biosynthesis and perception, light signal transduction and plant development

Question 6

Main disadvantage of Drosophila melanogaster

Answer 6

Difficult to store

Question 7

Major contributions of Drosophila studies

Answer 7

Development
Cytogenetics
Transmission, behavioural, population & evolutionary genetics

Question 8

Most useful feature of Caenorhabditis elegans

Answer 8

Transparency

Question 9

Major contributions of nemotode studies

Answer 9

Development, programmed cell death and iRNA

Question 10

Advantages and drawbacks of using Mus musculus

Answer 10

+ Mammal, small size, short life cycle, targeted knockouts

- Large genome size, expensive

Question 11

Major contributions of mouse studies

Answer 11

Cancer research, human diseases, carcinogen test, development and immunology