Analysis of Transcription Factors and Alita: A Biology Report

This report delves into the biological concepts presented in the movie Alita, focusing on the roles of transcription factors and epigenetics in gene regulation, cell repair, and neuronal function. The analysis highlights the significance of DNA methylation in maintaining brain function and the application of induced pluripotent stem cells in the context of Alita's cyborg body and brain repair. The report examines how epigenetic modifications and transcriptional factors can be related to the movie. The analysis explores how the processes of epigenetics modification helps in repairing Alita’s human brain after a crash and maintaining its functions, and how through transcriptional factors and epigenetic modifications, genomics and codes were implanted in Alita’s brain to maintain and enhance its performance. The relationship between induced pluripotent stem cells and Alita's development and functionality are also discussed, emphasizing the body's self-repair mechanisms and the potential for cell replacement therapy. References to relevant scientific literature support the discussion, providing a comprehensive understanding of the biological principles at play.

Running head: TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS 1
Transcription Factors
Name
Institution

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Transcription Factors
i) Alita is a movie based on a female battle cyborg that possessed a human brain. The
cyborg was revived by a doctor and all of its other parts were artificial apart from the
brain. According to Zhang (2018), epigenetic modification and transcriptional factors
play a vital role in gene regulation and expression. Additionally, epigenetics
modification is reversible and does not affect the gene sequence of a DNA.
Epigenetics modifications and transcriptional factors are related to the movie Alita in
several ways. One of the ways is that epigenetics modifications have been used to
create a gene pool that has genomes that are encoded to control the different systems
in the body of Alita and the other cyborgs in the movie. Alita is allowed to perform
tasks as specified by its controller and its fitness and efficiency are ranked based on
its performance. The modification of the robots and cyborgs in the movie Alita
reveals how transcriptional factors and epigenetics modifications can be related to the
movie.
ii) The process of epigenetics modification helps in repairing Alita’s human brain after a
crash and maintaining its functions. This repair and maintenance are done through
DNA methylation. It is revealed in the movie that after the crash, Alita’s brain
remained alive and a doctor had to build a body and revive Alita. Shin, Ming & Song
(2014) reveal that DNA methylation is important in epigenetic modification to
enhance genomics imprinting and chromosomal stability. Through transcriptional
factors and epigenetic modifications, genomics and codes were implanted in Alita’s
brain to maintain and enhance its performance. It is also important to note that DNA
methylation of the human brain plays an important role in neuronal functions,

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memory, and learning. This is why after some time and with every experience, Alita
learns about her past, remembers some past events in an attempt to know her true
identity. Through epigenetic modification genomics in Alita’s structure interacted and
performed several tasks as instructed by the specified controller. It is thus clear that
epigenetics modifications and transcriptional factors played a vital role in the repair
of Alita’s brain and maintaining its performance.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell
i) Induced Pluripotent Stem cells can be described as genetically programmed adult
cells. The cells are programmed to resemble embryonic stem cells after which they
are forced to express factors and genes that are analogous to embryonic stem cells in
terms of properties and functions. Induced Pluripotent Stem cell is related to the
movie Alita in some way because of how Alita was developed and programmed to
perform some actions. Induced Pluripotent Stem cells are believed to aid in cell
replacement therapy according to Konagaya, Ando, Yamauchi, Suemori & Iwata
(2015). Additionally, Induced Pluripotent Stem cells undergo self-renewal and
produce several types of functional cells. This theory is related to the movie Alita in
the sense that Alita’s body was designed to perform functions and work similarly to
the human body. Additionally, in situations of minor damages, the structures that
built its body were capable of regenerating themselves and undergoing self-repair in a
similar way to self-renewal of stem cells as described by Konagaya et al. (2015).
ii) The working of induced Pluripotent Stem cells can be used to describe how Alita’s
human brain was repaired and its functions maintained at optimal levels. It is
ascertained by several scholars and researchers that induced Pluripotent Stem cells

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undergo self-renewal and encourage cell replacement therapy. Firstly, Alita
experiences a crush and its body is damaged but the human brain remains intact. In an
aim to revive Alita, doctor Ido picks Alita’s brain and takes it to the laboratory where
he rebuilds the body and gives it all the necessary functionalities. Alita additionally
learns about her past and tries to know her real identity. Furthermore, due to Induced
Pluripotent Stem cells, Alita can express emotions and the doctor realizes that Alita
has the soul of a teenager.

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References
Konagaya, S., Ando, T., Yamauchi, T., Suemori, H., & Iwata, H. (2015). Long-term
maintenance of human induced pluripotent stem cells by automated cell culture
system. Scientific reports, 5(1), 1-9.
Shin, J., Ming, G. L., & Song, H. (2014). DNA modifications in the mammalian
brain. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological
Sciences, 369(1652), 20130512.
Zhang, W. D. (Ed.). (2018). Systems Biology and Its Application in TCM Formulas Research.
Academic press.