week 4

Considering the Jukes-Cantor, Kimura Evolution Models and the three sequences below from a similar DNA location of different species, evaluate the statements:

Sequence 1: AATGATGACGTTAGGAAAACTAGACGGTACGTAGT
Sequence 2: AATAATGACGTTAGGAAAATTAGACAGTAGGCAGT
Sequence 3: AAAAATGACGTAAGGAAAATTAGACAGCAGGTAGT

I - Considering the Jukes-Cantor Model, the distance between sequences 1 and 2 and between 2 and 3 are the same.
II - Considering the Kimura Evolution Model, the distance between 1 and 2 is different from the distance between 2 and 3 despite having the same rate of differences.
III - The distance between 1 and 3 is greater than the distance between 1 and 2 and the distance between 2 and 3 no matter which of the two models is considered.

Choose the correct alternative

a) Only statement I is correct.
b) Only statements I and II are correct.
c) Only statement III is correct.
d) Only statements II and III are correct.
e) None of the above.

Original idea by Mario Akita

Week 3

During the sequencing of a organism, a researcher found 3 different base sequences for a certain region of interest. By aligning the sequences, which of the alternatives below is a probable original sequence of this organism?

Sequence 1: AAAGCCACGGGGAAGCTGACGTCCA

Sequence 2: AAAGCCAGCGCAAGCTGACGCCCA

Sequence 3: AATAGCCACGGGGCAAGCTGACGTCA

a) AA-AGCCA-GCG-CAAGCTGACGCCCA

b) AATAGCCACGGGGCAAGCTGACGTCCA

c) AAAGCCACGGGGCAAGCTGACCTCCA

d) AAAGCCAGGGAAGCTGACCTCAAA

e) None of the above

1st week question

1) Which of the alternatives contains a true assertion about the structure of proteins?

a) The primary structure of a protein has todo with the order in which the amino acids are organized and therefore, is not important to determine the function of this protein.
b) Alpha-helix and beta-pleated sheets are shapes in which proteins fold and, therefore, are related to the primary structure of a protein.
c) The tertiary structure is a general overview of the protein as a whole or a part of a more complex protein.
d) The quaternary structure has to do with the way several primary structures interact to form a complex protein.
e) None of the above.