What the human genome tells us Flashcards
How do you compare gene sequences
‘Aligning’ Lining two sequences next to each other and making similar points
Why do we do comparative genomics
To discover similarities (conserved) and differences. Differences may encode organisms specific biology. This can help us learn bits of what each genome does.
Why would we compare genomes within species
Find out where differences occur. These can be associated with disease, characteristics or evolutionary history. To find how differences arise
Why do we compare genomes with other species
To try and find where our genomes differ in order to try and find what bits of our DNA code for our specific traits/ behaviours (tool use, language etc.)
What happens to DNA as it degrades
DNA from dead things can remain in the environment but is masked by more modern DNA. Sometimes base sequences can change
What can we use ancient DNA to do
Determine the relationships of extinct animals and could be used to sequence extinct human genomes
Who are modern humans closest ancestors
Neanderthals - some of us carry alleles. (Not individuals from Africa)
What does having Neanderthal alleles mean
It means when modern humans and Neanderthals met they interbred. But this doesn’t mean those that possess the alleles have different genes. It adds to the variation in our genotype that might be related to specific phenotypes
Were modern human and Neanderthals the only human like individuals alive around that time
No. Recently there has been discoveries of more species being alive in the same areas around the same time as these two. Most prominent of which being Denisovans. Which we now know we also possess some alleles from.
What does this tell us
We can start to find where our characteristics come from.
