Assignments for Genetic Evolution

“99.4% of the most critical DNA sites are identical in human and chimp genes”

• What do you make of this?

I do not think they should be used in laboratory experiments - that's for sure. Once again a "belief" turned on it's head and we have to adjust to the realization. I also like and agree with the question - why are we not put in the category with the chimps - rather than they with us?

Truly though - do these guys really know what they are doing??!!

Calling things they don't understand "junk" makes me laugh and dismiss anything "they" have to say!

Goodman compared published sequences of 97 genes on six species, including humans, chimps, gorillas, orangutans, and Old World monkeys. He looked only at what he considered the most functional DNA, bases which cannot be changed without a consequent change in the amino acid coded for by the gene.

Among these, he found that 99.4 percent were identical in humans and chimps. He found a lower correspondence for bases that could be changed without affecting the amino acid, with 98.4 percent identical for chimps and humans and the same for the "junk" DNA outside coding regions. Goodman believes the differences are larger for non-coding DNA because their sequences are not biologically critical.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3744

• Check out the Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, & Viruses Tutorial
  http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/tutorials/pev/page2.html
  

This takes me back! I remember some of this terminology from sixth grade science.....and yes - I do have Sympathy for the life of bacteria> I love how scientists and doctors use such dramatic language!

Pseudomonas bacteria

The cell wall is the target for antibiotics, as well as for carbohydrates that our immune system uses to detect infection. A major threat to humankind is the antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria have been selected by overuse of antibiotics.

I feel like this sometimes!

Your motor can only run in two directions and at one speed.
In forward, you are propelled in one direction at 30 mph.
In reverse your motor makes you turn flips or tumble.
You can only do one or the other. You cannot stop.

These findings represent the scientific equivalent of opening a new porthole on Earth and discovering a wholly new view of the universe. In decoding the genetic structure of archaea, we were astounded to find that two-thirds of the genes do not look like anything we've ever seen in biology before. This brings to closure the question of whether archaea are separate and distinct life forms. -Dr. J. Craig Venter