13.3.3

DNA Technology

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Evolutionary Relationships

Advances in technology have led to the development of new techniques to help establish evolutionary relationships between species. These techniques include:

Illustrative background for Genome sequencingIllustrative background for Genome sequencing ?? "content

Genome sequencing

  • The base sequences of organisms can be sequenced and compared to other organisms.
  • The more similar the base sequences are between organisms, the more closely related the two organisms are.
  • Genome sequencing has helped clarify evolutionary relationships (e.g. the relationship between skunks and weasels).
Illustrative background for Amino acid sequencingIllustrative background for Amino acid sequencing ?? "content

Amino acid sequencing

  • The amino acids that make-up proteins in an organism can be sequenced and compared to other organisms.
  • The more similar the amino acid sequences are between organisms, the more closely related they are.
    • E.g. Cytochrome C is an electron carrier protein used in respiration (it is in many organisms). Comparing the amino acid sequence of cytochrome C between organisms clarifies evolutionary relationships.
Illustrative background for Antibody-antigen interactionsIllustrative background for Antibody-antigen interactions ?? "content

Antibody-antigen interactions

  • Species produce specific antibodies that recognise foreign proteins.
  • An organism's antibodies can be isolated and mixed with another organism's proteins to see how many antigen-antibody complexes are formed.
  • The more complexes that form, the more closely related the two organisms are.

Jump to other topics

1Unity & Diversity - Molecules

2Unity & Diversity - Cells

3Unity & Diversity - Organisms

4Unity & Diversity - Ecosystems

5Form & Function - Molecules

6Form & Function - Cells

7Form & Function - Organisms

8Form & Function - Ecosystems

9Interaction & Interdependence - Molecules

10Interaction & Interdependence - Cells

11Interaction & Interdependence - Organisms

12Interaction & Interdependence - Ecosystems

12.1Populations & Communities

12.2Transfers of Energy & Matter

13Continuity & Change - Molecules

14Continuity & Change - Cells

15Continuity & Change - Organisms

16Continuity & Change - Ecosystems

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