3.4.7 - investigating diversity

Question 1

how can genome sequencing be used to clarify evolutionary relationships?

Answer 1

-genome sequencing means the entire base sequence of an organisms DNA can be determined
-the DNA base sequence of one organism can be compared to that of another
-closely related species will have a higher percentage of similarity in their base sequences

Question 2

how can comparing amino acid sequences be used to clarify evolutionary relationships?

Answer 2

-the sequence of amino acids in a protein is coded for by the base sequences in DNA
-related organisms have similar DNA sequences, so similar amino acid sequences in their proteins

Question 3

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Answer 3

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Question 4

how were early estimates of genetic diversity made?

Answer 4

by observing/counting the frequency of observable characteristics in a population

Question 5

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Answer 5

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Question 6

what can cause variation between species?

Answer 6

genetic factors, different species have different genes

Question 7

what can cause variation within a species and what causes it?

Answer 7

-individuals in a species have the same genes but different alleles which can cause variation
-can be caused by differences in the environment, such as climate, lifestyle

Question 8

why are samples of a population studies as opposed to the whole population?

Answer 8

-it can be too time consuming or impossible to catch all the individuals in the group, so samples are used as models for the whole population

Question 9

how can we prevent samples from being biased?

Answer 9

use random sampling