I am working on forming a few hypotheses and experiments to test the hypotheses
ID: 208608 • Letter: I
Question
I am working on forming a few hypotheses and experiments to test the hypotheses for the following prompt. I'm assuming it has something to do with the sodium potassium pump, but not sure on the specifics and how to test it.
Imagine that you are researching a hypothetical hydra-like marine organism, Parthenope egeria*, which normally lives on a diet of ciliates. You isolate a mutant organism that is unable to grow at low food density. Closer inspection reveals that this mutant cannot respond to the touch of approaching ciliates. You are able to determine that the mutation is not related to the contractile apparatus of the organism but instead is associated with neuron function. You therefore isolate neurons from the mutant strain of P. egeria and maintain them in culture as a cell line. The neurons appear normal, but an examination by electron microscopy shows an unusual distribution of vesicles and other organelles between the cell body and the axon.
Assuming that you have all modern facilities at your disposal, describe a set of experiments, with possible outcomes, that would allow you to discover what specific subcellular processes and/or proteins are defective in the mutant cells, and ultimately the identity and function of the mutated gene
Explanation / Answer
Since the electron microscopy has shown an abnormal distribution of vesicles we can link the disorder to information exchange at the synapse ( generally caused by the action potential to release neurotransmitters in the junction by fusion of vesicles in the cell.) We can radio label acetylcholine and membrane and observe the movement of acetylcholine at different instants
Related Questions
drjack9650@gmail.com
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.