Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN: 9780133923001
Author: Gerald Audesirk, Teresa Audesirk, Bruce E. Byers
Publisher: PEARSON
expand_more
expand_more
format_list_bulleted
Concept explainers
Videos
Textbook Question
Chapter 15.3, Problem 2CSC
What Good Are Wisdom Teeth and Ostrich Wings?
Just as anatomical homology can lead to vestigial structures such as human wisdom teeth and the wings of flightless birds, genetic homology can lead to vestigial DMA sequences. For example, most mammal species produce an enzyme. L-gulonolactone oxidase, that catalyzes the last step in the production of vitamin C. The species that produce the enzyme are able to do so because they all inherited the gene that encodes it from a common ancestor. Humans, however, do not produce L-gulonolactone oxidase, so we can’t produce vitamin C ourselves and must consume it in our diets. But even though we don’t produce the enzyme, our cells do contain a stretch of DMA with a sequence very similar to that of the enzyme-producing gene present in rats and most other mammals. The human version. though, does not encode the enzyme (or any protein). We inherited this stretch of DNA from an ancestor that we share with other mammal species, but in us, the sequence has undergone a change that rendered it nonfunctional. (The change probably did not confer a strong disadvantage, because our ancestors got sufficient vitamin C in their diets.) The nonfunctional sequence remains as a vestigial trait, evidence of our shared ancestry.
Vestigial traits are evidence of both shared ancestry and change in traits over time. What kinds of observations and experiments show that natural selection contributes to evolutionary change?
Expert Solution & Answer
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solution
Students have asked these similar questions
In humans, the AMY1 gene produces the enzyme amylase in cells of the salivary glands. Amylase breaks down starch (a polysaccharide) into the sugar maltose (a disaccharide). People from cultures with diets high in starch produce more amylase than people from cultures with diets low in starch because of a mutation in the AMY1 gene. Explain in two to three sentences why the frequency of this AMY1 mutation would have increased in frequency in populations with a high starch diet.
The platypus is one of a very small number of mammals that are venomous. Researchers compared the substances in the platypus venom to that of venomous reptiles. They found that the venom in platypus was derived from a protein called defensin, while that in many reptiles was based on a protein called crotamine. The protein structure of these molecules is remarkably similar, though they are controlled by unrelated genes in each taxa. Both molecules originated as non-toxic antimicrobial compounds.
Part A:
Venom in both platypus and reptiles is an example of:
A. Homologous traits
B. Analogous traits
C. Adaptive radiation
D. Genetic drift
Part B: A trait matrix for the amniotes is below. Using the trait matrix, match the taxa to the letters at the branch tips. (see attached image)
Using the image, match the taxa to the letters at the branch tips
1. Chicken
2. Kangaroo
3. Viviparity
4. Placenta
Part C: In which location(s) did each trait evolve on the phylogeny? If more than one location…
Molecular Biology
Cytochrome c is a protein found in mitochondria. It is used in the study of evolutionary relationships because
most animals have this protein. Cytochrome c is made of 104 amino acids joined together.
Below is a list of the amino acids in part of a cytochrome protein molecule for 9 different animals. Any
sequences exactly the same for all animals have been skipped.
For each non-human animal, take a highlighter and mark any amino acids that are different than the human
sequence. When you finish, record how many differences you found in the table on the next page.
42
43
44
46
47
49
50
53
54
55
56
57
Human
Q
A
P
Y
S
A
K
K
Chicken
A
E
F
D
K
N
K
Horse
Tuna
Q
A
A
F
K
K
K
K
Q
Frog
A
A
F
S
D
K
N
K
G
Shark
A
Q
F
T.
D
K
K
G
Turtle
A
E
F
S
E
K
N.
K
G
Monkey
A
P
Y
А
K
K
G
Rabbit
Q
A
V
F
S
T.
K
N
K
G
58
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
100
101
102 103
104
Human
G
E
D
L
M
K
A
N
E
Chicken
G
E
T.
M
E
D
A
K
Horse
Tuna
K
N
E
E
M
A
N
IN
K
Frog
G
E
E
T.
L
M
E
S
A
S
K
Shark
E
R
K
A
A
S
Turtle
G
E
E
T.…
Chapter 15 Solutions
Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
Ch. 15.1 - identify some of the thinkers whose ideas set the...Ch. 15.1 - Prob. 2CYLCh. 15.1 - define evolution?Ch. 15.2 - A recent study found that Galpagos mockingbirds on...Ch. 15.2 - Prob. 2TCCh. 15.2 - explain how natural selection works and how it...Ch. 15.2 - describe the logic, based on four postulates, by...Ch. 15.3 - The fossil history of some kinds of modem...Ch. 15.3 - What Good Are Wisdom Teeth and Ostrich Wings?...Ch. 15.3 - Are a peacocks tail and a dogs tail homologous...
Ch. 15.3 - Between 70% and 85% of people will experience...Ch. 15.3 - describe the evidence that evolution has occurred?Ch. 15.3 - explain the difference between similarity due to...Ch. 15.3 - What Good Are Wisdom Teeth and Ostrich Wings? Just...Ch. 15.4 - To reduce the incidence of pesticide resistance,...Ch. 15.4 - describe some observations and experiments that...Ch. 15.4 - CONSIDER THIS Some advocates of the view that all...Ch. 15.4 - Some advocates of the view that all organisms were...Ch. 15 - Whale skeletons contain nonfunctional pelvic bones...Ch. 15 - Darwin was influenced by Malthuss thinking about...Ch. 15 - Prob. 3MCCh. 15 - Which of the following is not required for...Ch. 15 - Prob. 5MCCh. 15 - The flipper of a seal is homologous with the _____...Ch. 15 - Prob. 2FIBCh. 15 - Georges Cuvier espoused a concept called ______ to...Ch. 15 - Prob. 4FIBCh. 15 - Prob. 5FIBCh. 15 - Darwin's postulate 2 states that ______. The work...Ch. 15 - Prob. 1RQCh. 15 - Distinguish between catastrophism and...Ch. 15 - Describe Lamarcks theory of inheritance of...Ch. 15 - What is natural selection? Describe how natural...Ch. 15 - Describe how evolution occurs. In your...Ch. 15 - What is convergent evolution? Give an example.Ch. 15 - How do biochemistry and molecular genetics...Ch. 15 - In what sense are humans currently acting as...Ch. 15 - In discussions of untapped human potential, It is...Ch. 15 - Does evolution through natural selection produce...
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- Molecular Biology Cytochrome c is a protein found in mitochondria. It is used in the study of evolutionary relationships because most animals have this protein. Cytochrome c is made of 104 amino acids joined together. Below is a list of the amino acids in part of a cytochrome protein molecule for 9 different animals. Any sequences exactly the same for all animals have been skipped. For each non-human animal, take a highlighter and mark any amino acids that are different than the human sequence. When you finish, record how many differences you found in the table on the next page. 42 43 44 46 47 49 50 53 54 55 56 57 Human A Y S T. А K N G Chicken Q A E S T. K K G Horse A P D K N K G Tuna Q E F Frog A А S D K N K G Shark A Q T. D K S K Turtle Q A E F K N K G Monkey Q А Y T. K Rabbit Q А V F D K N K G 58 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 100 101 102 103 104 Human G E D M E K A T N E Chicken G E D M D A Horse T K E E T L M E K A T N E Tuna V E T L R E K Frog T. G E T L M E S A K Shark Q E L R K A A…arrow_forwardGalactosemia is a metabolic disorder characterized by the inability to metabolize the sugar galactose. People with galactosemia suffer from liver, kidney, and brain damage among other symptoms. A gene mutation underlying galactosemia was identified by sequencing the genome of a person with galactosemia. What additional evidence would support the hypothesis that the mutation in the candidate gene causes the disease?arrow_forwardBeadle and Tatum's experiments led to the "one gene - one enzyme (protein)" hypothesis. In subsequent years, many exceptions to this hypothesis were noted. A molecule of hemoglobin fails to support this hypothesis for which of the following reasons? n eukaryotes, one gene can code form multiple isoforms of a polypeptide. The functional hemoglobin protein is made from multiple polypeptides. Not all enzymes are proteins. Not all genes encode proteins.arrow_forward
- It is becoming possible for molecular biologists to synthesizealmost any protein desired. Suppose you use a phylogenetic treeof modern-day enzymes (e.g., Figure 2.21B) to predict the aminoacid sequence of a now-nonexistent ancestral enzyme form.What insights might you obtain by synthesizing the ancestralenzyme protein?arrow_forwardWhich of the following best explains the number of similarities between the amino acid sequences of the Drosophila Hedgehog protein and the Chicken Indian Hedgehog protein? O A. The Drosophila hedgehog gene evolved from hedgehogs, which are distantly related to birds. O B. Both genes evolved from a gene present in the last common ancestor of Drosphila and chickens, and the number of differences reflects the amount of time that has elapsed during the evolution of these two lineages. a During the evolution of Drosophila and chickens, a hedgehog like gene arose independently in each lineage, then the gene that arose in chickens diversified. A These genes are unrelated, and the fact that they are similar is only because the proteins need to have similar biochemical properties. They are unrelated because chickens don't have segments and Drosophila larvae don't have limb buds.arrow_forwardThe following are DNA sequences from two homologous genes: TTGCATAGGCATACCGTATGATATCGAAAACTAGAAAAATAGGGCGATAGCTA GTATGTTATCGAAAAGTAGCAAAATAGGGCGATAGCTACCCAGACTACCGGAT The two sequences, however, do not begin and end at the same location. Try to line them up according to their homologous regions.arrow_forward
- Here is some information about the sequences: All these sequences, “SEQUENCE_21” to “SEQUENCE_27” are in the same subfamily or “clade” of a large phylogenetic alignment of all Rab proteins in these three species (see “Figure 1.pdf” for a full view of gene family in humans, plants and yeast, see the “D” branch towards the bottom of the tree in Figure 1). “SEQUENCE_28” is a different Rab protein (actually it is the Rab39 protein at the bottom of the tree). “SEQUENCE_21” is from yeast. “SEQUENCE_22” to “SEQUENCE_25” are from the plant, Arabidopsis. “SEQUENCE_26” and “SEQUENCE_27” are from humans. Question: Based on the information above, what can you speculate about the possible evolution of the genes that “SEQUENCE_21” to “SEQUENCE_27” represent? (write 5 points at least).arrow_forwardOne unexpected result of the sequencing of the human genome was the finding that mutations in a single gene can be responsible for multiple distinct disorders. For example, mutations in the RET gene can cause two different types of multiple endocrine neoplasias, familial medullary thyroid carcinoma, and Hirschsprung disease. How do you think mutations in a single gene can have such diverse effects?arrow_forwardRecall from our classes on molecular evolution that some proteins evolve more rapidly than others. For example, the oxygen-carrying protein myoglobin evolves more quickly than the D1 protein of photosystem II. What explains this difference in the rate of protein evolution? A. Proteins like myoglobin have evolved more recently than proteins like D1 and thus have been forced to evolve more quickly. B. Changes to the sequence of some proteins can be tolerated as they don’t alter fitness; for other proteins, sequence changes are usually harmful. C. In constrained proteins like D1, evolution results primarily from nucleotide changes that alter the amino acid sequence of the protein. D. Protein evolution is dependent upon the rate of gene mutation and some genes have a higher rate of mutation than others.arrow_forward
- The authors used (1,5- 14C2)citrate to measure activity of the TCA enzymes in the liver. Generally, in textbooks the carbon structures of TCA intermediates are illustrated by adding 14CH3 13COCOO- to an appropriately prepared cell lysate. What is the advantage with respect to the rate of 14CO2 evolution by adding (1,5-14C2)citrate instead of 14CH313COCOO-? Show the effect by writing the reactions of the TCA cycle for both cases.arrow_forwardComparisons between human and chimpanzee genomes indicate that a gene that may function as a wild-type or normal gene in one primate may function as a disease-causing gene in another [The Chimpanzee Sequencing and Analysis Consortium (2005). Nature 437:69–87]. For instance, the PPARG locus (regulator of adipocyte differentiation) is a wild-type allele in chimps but is clearly associated with Type 2 diabetes in humans. What factors might cause this apparent contradiction? Would you consider such apparent contradictions to be rare or common? What impact might such findings have on the use of comparative genomics to identify and design therapies for disease-causing genes in humans?arrow_forwardFigure shows a part of the sequence alignment of human and whale myoglobin proteins. Please explain the difference between green- and yellow-colored mutations. Which mutations have higher probability to change the function of protein, why?arrow_forward
arrow_back_ios
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
arrow_forward_ios
Recommended textbooks for you
Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Co...BiologyISBN:9781305251052Author:Michael CummingsPublisher:Cengage Learning
Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Co...
Biology
ISBN:9781305251052
Author:Michael Cummings
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Mechanisms of Genetic Change or Evolution; Author: Scientist Cindy;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FE8WvGzS4Q;License: Standard Youtube License