Explain what quaternary structure means.
Human FSH can be obtained from women’s urine (u-hFSH). A method using monoclonal antibodies is employed to make purified u-hFSH. Suggest how monoclonal antibodies can be used to separate purified u-hFSH from urine.
Recombinant human FSH (r-hFSH) can be made by inserting the genes coding for the $\alpha$ and $\beta$ polypeptide chains of FSH into mammalian ovary cells. Suggest why mammalian cells are needed to make r-hFSH, rather than bacterial cells.
During IVF treatment, a second hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), is injected after the mature ovarian follicles (Graafian follicles) have developed. Draw a labelled diagram showing the structure of a mature ovarian follicle.
The performance of r-hFSH was compared with that of u-hFSH. Women in the study were randomly split into two groups and given either r-hFSH or u-hFSH. The differences between the two groups of women after FSH treatment are shown in Table 2.1. With reference to Table 2.1, compare the effects of treatment with r-hFSH and u-hFSH and suggest explanations for the differences.
The probability of the results for the mean number of mature follicles per woman happening by chance is $< 0.002$. Explain what is meant by this probability.