Freethought & Rationalism Archive

ohwilleke · 01-09-2002, 07:23 AM

One thing that has been surprising me as I've read the recent research on DNA similarlity between species, etc. is how very much of DNA is about the biochemistry of life, and how very little of DNA is about morphology.

For example, a single gene controls the location of critical organs on a fruit fly, while matters like the immune system seem to be dreadfully complex.

Once you establish the basic biochemistry shares by huge varieties of life, it doesn't appear to take many genes to make major morphological changes. A bit like once you've got a set of legos, it doesn't take that much effort to put them together in a variety of forms.

This implies that fewer mutations are required for major speciation than many scientists had presumed.

Any thoughts anyone?

tronvillain · 01-09-2002, 02:43 PM

I think you have to be a bit more specific actually.

Dr Rick · 01-09-2002, 03:20 PM

The discovery that humans have far fewer genes then previously anticipated revealed that we are genetically very similar to other life-forms, suggesting only relatively few mutations may be needed to make major phenotypic (physical) changes. See this editorial from <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/291/5507/1219" target="_blank">Science Magazine</a>

01-09-2002, 07:23 AM	#1
ohwilleke Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Denver, Colorado, USA Posts: 4,834	Contents of DNA One thing that has been surprising me as I've read the recent research on DNA similarlity between species, etc. is how very much of DNA is about the biochemistry of life, and how very little of DNA is about morphology. For example, a single gene controls the location of critical organs on a fruit fly, while matters like the immune system seem to be dreadfully complex. Once you establish the basic biochemistry shares by huge varieties of life, it doesn't appear to take many genes to make major morphological changes. A bit like once you've got a set of legos, it doesn't take that much effort to put them together in a variety of forms. This implies that fewer mutations are required for major speciation than many scientists had presumed. Any thoughts anyone?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

01-09-2002, 02:43 PM	#2
tronvillain Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,658	I think you have to be a bit more specific actually.

01-09-2002, 03:20 PM	#3
Dr Rick Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: USA Posts: 5,393	The discovery that humans have far fewer genes then previously anticipated revealed that we are genetically very similar to other life-forms, suggesting only relatively few mutations may be needed to make major phenotypic (physical) changes. See this editorial from <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/291/5507/1219" target="_blank">Science Magazine</a>

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.