Work through the list without notes. If you cannot do a statement, follow its link, then come back. Guide = study guide; Practice = practice questions.
Understanding
- I can name four kinds of cellular response to a signal and give an example of each. (Guide: “Four kinds of cellular response”)
- I can tell a response that changes existing proteins from one that needs new gene expression, and say which is faster. (Guide: Figure 1; Practice Q1)
- I can explain how a transcription factor at the end of a pathway can change a cell’s phenotype. (Guide: “Changing gene expression”, “Changing phenotype”)
- I can describe apoptosis and explain how it shapes a developing organism. (Guide: “Apoptosis”; Practice Q5)
- I can explain how quorum sensing lets a bacterial population switch genes on together. (Guide: “Changing phenotype”; Worked example 1)
Calculation and skills
- I can describe a switch-like trend in data and quote a fold change. (Guide: Worked example 1)
- I can calculate a percentage change and the fraction of a response that a drug removes. (Practice Q4)
- I can use doubling time to find when a growing population reaches a threshold. (Practice Q7)
Reasoning
- I can predict the effect of a mutation in the ligand-binding domain, the intracellular domain or a later component, as loss or gain of function. (Guide: “When part of the pathway changes”; Practice Q3)
- I can predict whether a chemical acting on a named component will activate or inhibit the response. (Guide: “When chemicals interfere”; Practice Q2, Q6)
- I can use results from mutants, inhibitors and bypassing compounds to justify a claim about the order of pathway components. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q4)
- I can explain competition between a signal and a blocking molecule for the same binding site. (Practice Q6)
All ticked? Move on to Topic 4.4, Feedback, or return to the course roadmap.