Biologists have studied many different species, including humans, and have estimated that it takes 500,000 years for 1% of the mitochondrial DNA to be changed by mutation. (This is an estimated mutation rate, and is currently being debated). Given that rate of mutation, we can estimate how long two groups have been reproductively separated by multiplying 500,000 years by the percentage of difference. (If the groups are 0.3% different: 500,000 x 0.3 = 150,000 years) A representative sample of different human geographical/racial DNA has been collected and analyzed. When all of the different mutations were counted, scientists found that only 0.4% of the DNA of modern humans has been mutated. How many years have modern humans been on the planet?
Biologists have studied many different species, including humans, and have estimated that it takes
500,000 years for 1% of the mitochondrial DNA to be changed by mutation. (This is an estimated mutation
rate, and is currently being debated). Given that rate of mutation, we can estimate how long two groups
have been reproductively separated by multiplying 500,000 years by the percentage of difference. (If the
groups are 0.3% different: 500,000 x 0.3 = 150,000 years)
A representative sample of different human geographical/racial DNA has been collected and analyzed.
When all of the different mutations were counted, scientists found that only 0.4% of the DNA of modern
humans has been mutated.
How many years have modern humans been on the planet?
Archeologists have found skeletal evidence of a modern-type human who lived on this planet about
100,000 years ago. You will investigate a partial answer to these questions.
Two important questions we will be addressing in this part of the lab are:
1) Where did modern humans originate on this planet?
2) What is the trail that modern humans took when spreading out to the different continents on the planet?
Figuring out the answers to these questions is somewhat like doing the “Trails of the Cross Country Hikers”
Problem. Here you will follow five geographical/racial groups instead of five hikers.
You must calculate when these groups separated from each other and related those times of separation
to a world map. From that information you will be able to tell a story of modern human migration and
origin.
Answer the following questions using what you learned about the Mitochondrial DNA clock.
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