Exam 2012-2013, questions - Advanced Developmental Biology PDF

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C13595-E1

University of Nottingham SCHOOL OF BIOLOGY

A LEVEL 3 MODULE, AUTUMN SEMESTER 2012-2013

ADVANCED DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

Time allowed TWO hours

Candidates may complete the front cover of their answer book and sign their desk card but must NOT write anything else until the start of the examination period is announced

Answer TWO questions. Use a separate answer book for each question.

No calculators are permitted in this examination. Dictionaries are not allowed with one exception. Those whose first language is not English may use a standard translation dictionary to translate between that language and English provided that neither language is the subject of this examination. Subject specific translation dictionaries are not permitted.

No electronic devices capable of storing and retrieving text, including electronic dictionaries, may be used.

DO NOT turn examination paper over until instructed to do so.

INFORMATION FOR INVIGILATORS: Students are permitted to take examination papers away with them at the end of the exam.

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Turn Over

2

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Answer TWO questions

1.

Describe how patterning of the neural tube generates unique domains for neuronal and glial progenitors.

2.

Describe how blood vessels form in the vertebrate embryo during vasculogenesis and how the vessels recruit mural cells. Explain how defects in vessel wall formation can contribute to diseases like pulmonary hypertension or abdominal aortic aneurysm.

3.

In both axolotls and mice primordial germ cells (PGCs) are specified by induction. Describe how the mechanisms of PGC specification are similar and how they are different. Explain what axolotls can tell us about the evolution of developmental mechanisms in vertebrates.

4.

Describe the origin, specification, migration and major derivatives of neural crest cells.

5.

In the mouse embryo, haematopoietic cells develop in waves from local precursor cells in different anatomical locations. Give the differentiation potential of the haematopoietic cells that form in the different locations. Explain the experiments that have allowed researchers to reveal the differentiation potential of the cells.

6.

Somatic cells can be reprogrammed to pluripotency by transfection of transcription factors, to produce induced pluripotent (iPS) cells, or by transferring somatic nuclei into eggs, so-called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Describe how both of these methods work, and explain why SCNT is a much more efficient reprogramming process.

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