4/26/2017

Genomes and Their Evolution Thursday, April 20th, 2017

Agenda:
Chapter 21 Study Guide Work Day
Chapter 21 quiz online due next wednesday

A Decision to Branch Out: Case Study Quiz

Friday, April 21st, 2017 1. Teosinte is an ancestor of the modern day maize. Based on
Agenda: the figure of teosinte and maize (next slide), which of the
Case Study
following scenarios is most likely to be true?
A. They are genetically identical. The difference in morphology is the result
of growing under different environments (domesticated vs. Wild).
B. During the process of domestication, mutations accumulated in the
maize lineage, which are the main cause of the morphological differences
between maize and teosinte.
C. Pre-existing mutations in the teosinte with another species that has very
little auxiliary branching.
D. Humans developed maize by crossing teosinte with another species that
has very little auxiliary branching.

A Decision to Branch Out: Case Study Quiz
2. Which of the following is an example of artificial
selection?
A. Deer mice living on the sand hills of Nebraska are light brown, while deer
mice living elsewhere are dark brown.
B. Insects become resistance to pesticides very quickly, sometimes in one
generation.
C. The use of antibiotics is linked to an increase in bacteria strains that are
resistant to antibiotics.
D. Compared to their wild relatives, dogs generally show reduced fear and
aggression towards humans.
A Decision to Branch Out: Case Study Quiz
3. A scientist conducted an experiment to investigate the effect of
fertilizer on plant growth rate. Plant A, B, and C were watered
every day with pure water, water containing 1 mg of fertilizer, and
water containing 5 mg of fertilizer, respectively. In this
experiment, the independent variable is ______ .
A. fertilizer
B. plant
C. plant growth rate
D. water
E. time

1
 4/26/2017

A Decision to Branch Out: Case Study Quiz
4. Rice plants will start to flower when daylight duration
shortens. However, flowering is delayed in hd1 null mutant
rice even under short days. Which of the following
statements is supported by this evidence?
A Decision to Branch Out: Case Study Quiz
5. Rice plants will start to flower when daylight duration
shortens. However, flowering is delayed in hd1 null mutant
rice even under short days. This evidence is a test for
__________?

A. The function of Hd1 is to inhibit flowering under long days. A. sufficiency

B. The function of Hd1 is to promote flowering under long days. B. requirement
C. The function of Hd1 is to inhibit flowering under short days. C. correlation
D. The function of Hd1 is to promote flowering under short days. D. None of the above

Monday, April 24th, 2017

Agenda:
Chapter 21 notes and short videos
Chapter 22 starts tomorrow!

What you need to know: Bioinformatics

Use of computers, software, and math models to
The major goals of the Human Genome Project
process and integrate data from sequencing projects
How prokaryotic genomes compare to eukaryotic
genomes.
The activity and role of transposable elements and
retrotransposons.
How evo-devo relates to our understanding of the
evolution of genomes.
The role of homeotic genes and homeoboxes.

2
 4/26/2017

Human Genome Project

Human Genome Project
Purpose: to sequence the entire human
genome
Completed in 2003
Genomes sequenced thus far*: 58,000
prokaryotes, 2700 eukaryotes, 5300 viruses

* Data as of 1/27/16

Human DNA
3 billion base pairs
Comparing Genomes ~20,000 genes
of Bacteria, Archaea, Only 1.5% codes for
& Eukaryotes proteins (or RNA)
Mostly Repetitive DNA:
sequences present in
multiple copies

Transposable Elements
Make up 75% of repetitive DNA
Stretches of DNA that can be moved from one
location to another in genome
Discovered by Barbara McClintock corn
breeding experiments
2 Types:
Transposons
Retrotransposons

3

Transposons
Moves within genome via DNA intermediate
cut & paste or copy & paste mechanisms
Requires enzyme transposase
Genome Evolution
Insertion effects of transposons:
Can interrupt or alter gene function
Multiple copies of genes
Duplication genes with related functions
Genes diverge by accumulating mutations
Some become nonfunctional pseudogenes
Eventually, new genes with new functions can
occur
Transpositions chromosomal rearrangements
4/26/2017
Retrotransposons
Move by means of RNA intermediate
Leaves copy at original site
Involves enzyme reverse transcriptase
Multigene Families
Collections of 2 or more identical or very
similar genes
Eg. hemoglobin: -globin and -globin gene
families
Transposable elements contribute to
evolution
Promote recombination, disrupt genes or
control elements, & carry genes to new
locations
May be harmful or lethal, but can also have
small beneficial effects
Provides raw material for natural selection
4
 4/26/2017

Illustrative Example: Antifreeze Gene in Fish

Antifreeze proteins (AFP): produced by vertebrates,
plants, fungi, bacteria to aid survival in sub-zero
environments
Function: bind to ice crystals and prevent growth
Antarctic fish: old protein gene transformed into a new
gene with new structure/function
Gene mutates duplicated divergent evolution

Evolutionary Development
Homeotic genes: master regulatory genes
(Evo-devo)
Control placement and spatial organization
Compares developmental processes to understand
of body parts
how changes can lead to evolution of organisms
Homeobox: widely conserved 180-nucleotide
sequence within homeotic (Hox) genes
Found in many groups (fungi, animals,
plants)
Hints at relatedness between all life forms

Conservation of
homeotic genes