Quiz · Designing an Epigenetics Study

Question 1What was the main purpose of the meeting with Doctor Reyes?

To publish results on plant genetics To apply for funding for laboratory equipment To debate the design of their epigenetics study To divide the literature review into sections

Question 2What did further analysis show about the pilot study's paternal effect?

It was confirmed across three generations It was caused by dietary stress in mice It proved stronger than first reported It turned out to be largely an artefact

Question 3How many generations did the supervisor insist on tracking?

At least three generations Only a single generation Exactly two generations Five successive generations

Question 4According to the lecture, what does the field of epigenetics concern?

Heritable changes in gene expression without altering the DNA sequence Permanent mutations within the underlying DNA sequence The replacement of damaged genes in later generations Changes in the DNA caused by environmental toxins

Question 5What subject did the group eventually settle on for their study?

Exposure to environmental toxins Dietary stress in laboratory mice Genetic changes in cultivated crop plants Paternal effects in large human families

Question 6What concerned the supervisor most about the proposed study?

The overall financial cost of the experiments The reliability of the methylation assays The small number of mice available for testing The shortage of recent journal articles

Question 7What danger did Doctor Reyes emphasize when interpreting the data?

Losing key measurements during the pilot phase Confusing correlation with genuine biological causation Publishing the results before any peer review Collecting too few samples from each test group

Question 8Why did the group agree to divide the literature review into three sections?

Because each student had chosen a different topic Because the submission deadline was moved forward by a month Because the supervisor had rejected the first draft Because the journals demanded much shorter summaries

Question 9What example from plant research did the supervisor give the students?

Toxins that alter the DNA of identical seeds Identical genomes producing strikingly different forms under different conditions Plants that inherit stress across five successive generations Methylation assays that fail in warmer climates

Question 10What did everyone accept by the end of the meeting?

That the pilot study should be repeated using mice That the deadline could be extended by one month That the literature review required no further changes That a cautious interpretation would strengthen their conclusions