After Reading the Paragraph Below, Answer the Questions That Follow

question 71

Multiple Choice

After reading the paragraph below, answer the questions that follow.
While DNA microarrays can be used to determine whether or not a gene is expressed in a cell, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) can be used to measure the extent of gene expression in cells and tissues. To perform qPCR, mRNA is extracted from cells and reverse transcribed to complementary DNA (cDNA) . Using fluorescent DNA molecules that recognize specific gene sequences and DNA polymerase, copies of the gene sequence of interest are made. After the copies are made, a fluorescent detector measures the intensity of the fluorescent signal, which is proportional to the number of mRNA transcripts in the cell and corresponds to the level of gene expression in the cell.
-A pancreatic cell normally produces low levels of the protein insulin, but after a meal it produces large levels of insulin before returning to its initial state. Which of the following figures would represent qPCR data obtained from a pancreatic cell that went through this cycle?

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Definitions:

Small Populations

Populations with a small number of individuals, which may face increased risks of extinction due to genetic drift, inbreeding, and reduced genetic diversity.

Genetic Isolation

A situation where different populations of a species are unable to interbreed, often leading to the formation of new species.

Secondary Contact

Refers to the reintroduction or interaction of populations that were previously isolated, often used in the context of evolutionary biology.

Novel Trait

A newly evolved feature in an organism that significantly differs from functions or structures in ancestral species, often due to genetic mutations or environmental changes.