Biochemistry

Question 1

Who is the most common ancestor

Answer 1

Mitchondrial EVE

Question 2

What is the purpose of bioinformatics and what is it

Answer 2

compare entire genomes=> allows for study of more complex eevolutionary events

can look at miniscue differences-> increased simiarities= more closely related.

Question 3

Describe Endogenous retrovirus

Answer 3

All offsprings share the same ERV at the same location and same chromosome.

ERV provides evidence to a common ancestor

Question 4

Describe mitochondrial DNA

Answer 4

double stranded ( 37genes) -> inherited by mother

Mitochondrial DNA can be used to identify a common ancestor-> mt dna similarities between two individuaks= closer relationship

Unlike nuclear DNA, which is a combination of both parents’ DNA, mitochondrial DNA remains largely unchanged from mother to offspring, providing a clear genetic lineage.

High Copy Number:
Each cell contains hundreds to thousands of copies of mitochondrial DNA (because each mitochondrion contains its own DNA, and cells can have many mitochondria), whereas nuclear DNA is only present in two copies per cell (one from each parent)

Question 5

Describe DDNA hybridisation

Answer 5

degree of genetic similarities between sequences.

dna strands are mix and incubated to create hybrid double stranded DNA

can determine comon ancestor by seeing how firm the hybrid sequences binds with each other= higher energy is required to seperate hybrid sequences thus is more similar.

Question 6

Homologous Structures

Answer 6

-> similar structure but differenct fiunctions= common ancestor.

Question 7

Describe protein sequencing

Answer 7

comparing sequence of amino acid in similar protein in differnt species= degree of difference enable estimation of evolution -> analyse sequences of ubiquitous proteins.

For e.g= haemoglobin-0