Eukaryotic Genome Evolution

Question 1

Evolutionary gene

Answer 1

A region of DNA/RNA that persists for long enough to have its frequency adjusted/maintained by natural selection

Question 2

C-value

Answer 2

Amount in picograms of DNA contained in a haploid nucleus

Question 3

C-value paradox

Answer 3

Cannot be used as a predictor for complexity

Question 4

ENCODE project

Answer 4

Suggests that 80% of human genome is functional
Measured unique transcripts regardless of abundance
-majority were of unknown function

Question 5

Genome size

Answer 5

Linear positive correlation to mutation rate

Logarithmically positively correlated to gene number

Question 6

Reduction in chromosome number

Answer 6

Telometric fusion (one centromere and fused telomere becomes non-functional)
Centric fusion (gene loss)
Centromere-telomere fusion (genes on one arm of chromosome become lost, and one centromere becomes nonfunctional)

Question 7

Gene content and gene order changes

Answer 7

Gene duplication
Pericentric inversion (around centromere)
Paracentric inversion (within arm of chromosome)
Block interchange (movement of segment)
Insertitial deletion
Terminal deletion

Question 8

Changes in gene order and distribution through cheomosomal exchange

Answer 8

Reciprocal translocation

Non reciprocal translocation

Question 9

Synteny

Answer 9

Conservation of blocks of order in two sets of compared chromosomes