Homework 9

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Answer Key in PDF format

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Bioc471a/571a Homework 9 - Due at the start of class November 13


1. (2 pts) What is the primary difference between the method used to clone Dolly the sheep, and that used by the group in Hawaii to generate Cumilina the mouse? Cite two reasons why the development of Pharm animals for commercial use may be years away despite proof of principle experiments showing it is possible?








2. (3 pts.) Describe how an Affymetrix type DNA chip can be used to create identification profiles based on DNA sequence differences, i.e., how is an Affymetrix chip used to sequence DNA based on hybridization? What are the two essential limiting parameters in designing an instantaneous "finger prick" assay as depicted in the movie "GATTACA" that must be worked out before this type of fingerprinting could be a reality? (hint: PCR solved these two problems with regard to the limited use of Southern blotting for DNA forensics).











3. (2 pts.) Using the amino acid sequence in the Lecture 23 notes, what protein function would you predict the "AMG Test Protein" to have based on your own GenBank tblastn and Psi blast query results? Justify your answer. How would you test this prediction?










4. (3 pts.) What has contributed to the application of mass spectrometry to proteomics, i.e., what are the two major breakthroughs that permitted the field of proteomics to expand so rapidly? Explain how random fragmentation at peptide bonds by tandem mass spectrometry can be used in conjunction with genomic databases to predict the sequence of a peptide.