Epigenetics, Animal Cloning, and the Likelihood of a Male Calico Cat

Please enter your responses to the questions below.  Often a single word or a short sentence is sufficient for full credit.  You should not need more than two sentences in any response during the semester.

1.  In an epic research manuscript by Moshe Szyf and Michael Meany titled “Epigenetic programming by maternal behavior” published in Nature Neuroscience in 2004, the authors showed that attention by mother rats to baby rats affected genes regulating a particular receptor type in the brain of the baby rats after they were grown.  What was the receptor gene type they examined and what changes to the DNA were observed?  (Hint:  Look at the reading assignment for Topic 06:   Grandma’s Experiences Leave a Mark on Your Genes) (40 points).

    Genes regulating what type of receptors?  _____________________

    What change to DNA? __________________

2.  What is the function of histones in cells?  (10 points)

3.  List three modifications that are known to occur in regard to histones that may affect gene expression and epigenetics.  (Hint:  Look in presentation files) (30 points)

4.   What was thought to be the cause of death of the first animal clone, Dolly the Sheep?  (10 points)

5.  What is the reason you would unlikely find a male calico cat?   (10 points)