4B- DNA Technology, Classification And Diversity Flashcards
What are the three wats advances in techniques can classify evolutionary relationships?
Genome sequencing
Comparing amino acids
Immunological comparisons
What is genome sequencing?
Entire base sequences can be determined and then compared to others to see how closely related they are.
Those who have a higher % are more closely related, even if they don’t look similar.
Eg. Skunk
What is comparing amino acid sequencing?
Proteins are made of amino acids. Their sequence is coded for by the base sequence in the DNA.
Related organisms will have similar DNA sequences so similar amino acid sequences.
Eg Cytochrome C is found in many species. The more similar the sequence of the protein the more closely related.
However, be aware of the degenerate nature.
What are immunological comparisons?
Similar proteins may bind to the same amino acids.
If antibodies are added to isolated samples of another species any protein thats like the human version will also be bound by that antibody.
How have gene technologies changed the way genetic diversity was assessed?
Early estimations were based on observable characteristics.
Since different alleles determine characteristics, the more different ones the more alleles, leading to the assumption of a high genetic diversity.
The new technologies provide a more accurate estimate of genetic diversity. It also allows them to be compared more easily.
