Question
A version of this process uses FACS (“fax”) to sort propidium iodide-labeled cells by DNA content. For 10 points each:
[10h] Name this process that can be chemically induced by nocodazole, colchicine, and other microtubule polymerization inhibitors. This process can also be induced via serum deprivation.
ANSWER: cell synchronization [or cell cycle synchronization; prompt on synchronization; prompt on cell cycle arrest or mitotic arrest by asking “for what purpose?”]
[10e] Other methods of cell synchronization rely on inhibitors of kinases dependent on these proteins, like RO-3306. The fluctuation of these proteins’ concentrations in the cell regulates progression through the cell cycle.
ANSWER: cyclins
[10m] Description acceptable. Cell synchronization can also exploit this mechanism, which arrests cells growing at high density at G1. That method fails for cancer cell lines because cells lose this mechanism during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.
ANSWER: contact inhibition [accept descriptions of cells stopping growth upon touching or cells stopping growth upon contacting other cells]
Data
| Team | Opponent | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn A | WUSTL B | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |