Evolutionary Analysis (5th Edition)
5th Edition
ISBN: 9780321616678
Author: Jon C. Herron, Scott Freeman
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 3, Problem 7Q
At the end of an article on how mutations in variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) sequences of DNA are associated with disease, Krontiris (1995, p. 1683) writes: “The VNTR mutational process may actually be positively selected; by culling those of us in middle age and beyond, evolution brings our species into fighting trim.” (T.G. Krontiris.1995, “Minisatellites and Human Disease.” Science 269, Reprinted with permission of the AAAS).
This researcher proposes that natural selection on humans favors individuals who die relatively early in life. His logic is that the trait of dying from VNTR mutations is beneficial and should spread because the population as a whole becomes younger and healthier as a result. Can this hypothesis be true, given that selection acts on individuals? Explain.
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Chapter 3 Solutions
Evolutionary Analysis (5th Edition)
Ch. 3 - In everyday English, the word adaptation means an...Ch. 3 - a. Describe Darwins four postulates in your own...Ch. 3 - Think about how the finch bill data demonstrate...Ch. 3 - According to the text, it is correct to claim that...Ch. 3 - A common creationist criticism of the finch study...Ch. 3 - Suppose that you are starting a long-term study of...Ch. 3 - At the end of an article on how mutations in...Ch. 3 - Describe three major objections to Darwins theory...Ch. 3 - Many working scientists are relatively...Ch. 3 - a. Describe Behes argument of irreducible...
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- 1b) In 1995, the first free-living organism to have its genome completely sequenced was Haemophilus influenzae, a bacteria. In the following year, the baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the first eukaryote genome sequence to be fully sequenced. The complete sequencing of the human genome and related organisms represent one of the greatest scientific achievements in the history of mankind. Write an essay on the importance of genome studies in general.arrow_forwardWhat event contradicts the central dogma of molecular biology?arrow_forwardWrite a paragraph describing the evolutionary forces driving changes in the human genome. You can include evolutionary forces such as random genetic drift, mutation, migration, and natural selection. These forces would have long-term and short-term effects on coding and non-coding DNA, the abundance of transposable elements, and the birth and death of genes. You can focus on a subset of the human population, or the entire species.arrow_forward
- Which organism violates the central dogma of molecular biology?arrow_forwardWhat is the purpose of the Human Genome Project? Why do researchers want to know the details of the human genome?arrow_forwardIn DNA-hybridization experiments on six species of plants in the genus Vicia, DNA was isolated from each of the six species, denatured by heating, and sheared into small fragments (W. Y. Chooi. 1971. Genetics 68:213–230). In one experiment, DNA from each species and from E. coli was allowed to renature. The graph shows the results of this renaturation experiment. Q. Can you explain why the E. coli DNA renatures at a much faster rate than does DNA from any of the Vicia species?arrow_forward
- You are discussing with some of your bio major friends who have not taken Genetics and your non-bio major friends about how characteristics such as blue eye, light skin pigmentation, and light hair color, derived from a mutation that occurred about 10,000 years ago in Europe. Your friends are not very happy that you used the word mutation to describe the origin of human characteristics associated with light pigmentation. At that moment you only recall that green eye, fair skin and red hair in Neanderthals was due to other alleles and you mention that to them as an example of genetic determinants in species of the genus Homo. They are not convinced of your choice of the word mutation. Then you remember part of one of the papers that you read for Minicourse 5 regarding the OCA2 allele. “OCA2, homologous to the mouse pink-eyed dilution gene, encodes the human protein P, an integral membrane protein involved in both the transport of tyrosine and that helps in the regulation of…arrow_forward"The Quest to Create a Synthetic Human Genome" Define this ?arrow_forwardHow many different explanations can you think of for the observation that the rate of mutation varies across the genome? How would you weigh up evidence for these different ideas to decide which ones have the most explanatory power?arrow_forward
- A mutation is a change that occurs in our DNA sequence, either due to mistakes when the DNA is copied or as the result of environmental factors. All BUT ONE of the statements below correctly describes or explains genetic mutations. A) Mutation can disrupt normal cell activity and cause diseases, like cancer. B) Mutations in parents' cells are then passed down to offspring via reproduction. C) Our cells can recognise any potentially mutation-causing damage and repair it before it permanent. D) Mutations can occur as the result of exposure to environmental factors such as smoking, toxins and radiation.arrow_forwardScientists have reportedly isolated short fragments of DNA from fossilized dinosaur bones hundreds of millions of years old. The technique used to isolate this DNA is the polymerase chain reaction, which is capable of amplifying very small amounts of DNA a millionfold. Critics have claimed that the DNA isolated from dinosaur bones is not purely of ancient origin, but instead has been contaminated by DNA from present-day organisms such as bacteria, mold, or humans. What precautions, analyses, and control experiments could be carried out to ensure that DNA recovered from fossils is truly of ancient origin?arrow_forwardWhat the world looks like due to mutation?illustratearrow_forward
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