Q27 - Finding the Minimal Reprogramming Gene Set for Fibroblasts

Theoretical 1 Real exam question - full text reproduced under IBO's CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license

Gene Regulation: Eukaryotic & Epigenetics

A researcher aimed to induce undifferentiated cells by expressing multiple genes in human fibroblasts. They focused on 24 genes that were identified as highly expressed in embryonic stem (ES) cells. It was found that when all 24 genes were simultaneously introduced in fibroblasts, the colony formation characteristics of undifferentiated cells occurs. Next the researchers tried to find the minimum set of genes that induce undifferentiated cells. The graph shows the colony formation when 23 genes except one were introduced into fibroblast cells. (“All” on the X axis shows that the 24 genes are all introduced.)

Figure 1. Figure 1.

Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.

A. These results show that colonies can be formed through the introduction of genes 14, 15, and 20 into the fibroblast together.

B. These results show that gene 14, gene15, and gene 20 are required for colony formation.

C. These results show that the colony number is the highest when gene 9 is introduced into the fibroblast.

D. This experiment alone is not sufficient to find the minimum gene set needed to induce colonies.

E. These results show that genes 14, 15, and 20 are expressed in fibroblast cells.

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Question reproduced from IBO 2020, Theoretical Exam 1, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Community solutions (unofficial)