On pages 157-158, Dr. Moalem describes an experiment related
to Big Idea 3 (Living systems
store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life
processes.). This experiment
uncovered an epigenetic control mechanism for the agouti gene in mice using prenatal vitamins.
Define epigenetic control and explain how the agouti gene is
regulated at the molecular level. In
addition, describe the phenotypic outcomes of this regulation and explain the
significance of this regulation as it relates to disease conditions in mice. Finally, research one of the compounds
present in the prenatal vitamins (vitamin B12, folic acid, betaine, or choline)
and propose why it may (or may not) have been the ingredient that shifted the agouti gene to the “off” position based
on the compound’s known functions.
(Posted by Mr. Erdmann, berdmann@d125.org)
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