Phylogenetics And Molecular Clocks Flashcards
What is the binomial system?
A system which allows us to classify organisms
What are the classification domains?
Archaea - single celled microorganisms, prokaryotes, live in extreme environments
Bacteria - prokaryotes
Eukaryotes - an organism with a distinct nucleus which contains genetic material
What is genomics?
The study of genomes
What is phylogenetics?
The study of evolutionary relatedness among different groups of organisms
Makes use of information obtained from comparative genomics
What has helped scientists to sequence the events in evolution?
Fossil records
Comparative genomics
What can be used as a measure of evolutionary distance between two groups?
The number of differences per unit length of DNA sequence between two genomes
How can a molecular clock be constructed?
A molecular clock can be constructed by comparing the number of nucleotide substitutions within the same gene in a number of different species
What does the molecular clock give information about?
How long ago the most recent common ancestor of the species existed and the sequence in which the species evolved
Ethical issues concerning personal genomics
Who should have access to the information
Potential for genetic discrimination
I.e. Insurance companies and employers
