Ecology Unit Outline s1

Gene Regulation Unit Organizer

Gene Regulation

Section I – Vocabulary Below is a list of all of the biology vocabulary terms used in the Unit. By the end of the Unit, you will be able to write a working definition of each term and correctly use each term.

 cellular differentiation  homeostasis  ribosome  development  Hox genes  RNA  DNA  lac operon  RNA polymerase  epigenetics  mRNA  transcription  eukaryote  prokaryote  translation  gene regulation  receptor  tRNA  histones  repressor 

Section 2 – Mastery Objectives / Critical Thinking Skills 1. Explain the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene regulation 2. Describe the general process of gene regulation by lipids and proteins in eukaryotes 3. Use epigenetics to explain how environment influences gene regulation. 4. Explain the difference between DNA based inheritance and epigenetics 5. Explain how “shape matters” applies to gene regulation.

Section 3A –Required Readings  Miller and Levine – pp 309 - 312

Section 3B –Relevant Websites Refer to the class wiki (http://nnhsbiology.pbworks.com)

Section 4 – – Outside Class Assignments Thoughtfully do each of the following assignments. Include all your reasoning and work wherever it seems appropriate. Due dates for each assignment will be given in class. (Please remember - homework that is passed in late is automatically discounted 15%.) 1) Develop concept maps for the following groups of terms a) Gene regulation, development, cellular differentiation, homeostasis, Hox genes b) Epigenetics, DNA, histones, transcription c) Gene regulation, DNA, receptor, repressor, transcription, RNA polymerase, lac operon Gene Regulation Unit Organizer

2) Use a simple, two circle Venn diagram to compare and contrast eukaryotic and prokaryotic gene regulation. Include all 20 vocabulary terms listed.

3) Once again we have seen that shape matters. Explain how shape matters when we consider gene regulation.

4) We are finishing up our unit on genetics and we are moving into evolution, the study of the appearance and disappearance of living organisms on the planet. Consider the Hox genes of a fruit fly and a human (check out the powerpoint slide). How do you think genetics is connected to evolution?