To Maximize the Number of Thymine Dimer Mutations Following UV

question 28

Multiple Choice

To maximize the number of thymine dimer mutations following UV exposure, should you keep human cells in tissue culture in the dark, in the light, or does it matter at all?

• A) The dark-light will activate the photorepair systems that can break thymine dimers induced by UV light.
• B) The light-it's important to keep on producing the thymine dimers by keeping the plate exposed to light as much as possible.
• C) Alternating light and dark every hour to increase the chances that thymine dimers will form, but prevent photorepair systems from correcting them as they are formed.
• D) It doesn't matter-human cells don't have the enzymes needed for photorepair of thymine dimers.
• E) Alternating light and dark every 24 hours to increase the chances that thymine dimers will form.

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Definitions:

Law of Small Numbers

The erroneous belief that small samples will accurately represent the larger population from which they are drawn.

Law of Small Numbers

A cognitive bias that leads people to draw broad conclusions from small samples of data.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.

Gambler's Fallacy

The erroneous belief that if a particular event occurs more frequently than normal during the past, it is less likely to happen in the future, or vice versa, in situations that are truly random.