Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers

Freeman - Biological Science 7th Edition

Freeman7th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9783584863285Not the one you use?Change textbook

Freeman 7th Edition

Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers

Problem 10

Chapter 20, Problem 10

One hypothesis for differences between humans and chimpanzees involves differences in gene regulation. A study using RNA-seq showed that the overall patterns of gene expression were similar in the liver and blood of the two species, but the expression patterns were strikingly different in the brain. How do these results relate to the hypothesis?

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Begin by understanding the hypothesis: It suggests that differences between humans and chimpanzees may be due to differences in gene regulation, particularly in how genes are expressed in different tissues.

Consider the study's findings: RNA-seq analysis showed similar gene expression patterns in the liver and blood of both species, indicating that gene regulation in these tissues might be conserved between humans and chimpanzees.

Focus on the brain: The study found striking differences in gene expression patterns in the brain between humans and chimpanzees. This suggests that gene regulation in the brain is a key area where differences between the two species may arise.

Relate the findings to the hypothesis: The differences in brain gene expression support the hypothesis that gene regulation, particularly in the brain, could be a significant factor in the evolutionary divergence between humans and chimpanzees.

Conclude by considering the implications: These results imply that changes in gene regulation in the brain may contribute to the unique cognitive and neurological traits observed in humans compared to chimpanzees.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Gene Regulation

Gene regulation refers to the mechanisms that control the expression of genes, determining when, where, and how much a gene is expressed. This process is crucial for cellular differentiation and function, allowing organisms to adapt to changes in their environment. Differences in gene regulation can lead to significant phenotypic variations between species, even if they share a large percentage of their DNA.

RNA-seq

RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) is a powerful technique used to analyze the transcriptome, the complete set of RNA transcripts produced by the genome under specific circumstances. It provides insights into gene expression patterns, revealing which genes are active, to what extent, and how they differ between tissues or species. This method is essential for understanding the regulatory differences that may contribute to phenotypic diversity.

Brain Gene Expression

Gene expression in the brain is highly complex and tightly regulated, reflecting the organ's intricate functions and adaptability. Differences in brain gene expression between species, such as humans and chimpanzees, can lead to significant cognitive and behavioral distinctions. The study's finding of divergent expression patterns in the brain supports the hypothesis that regulatory changes, rather than genetic sequence differences, may underlie key evolutionary differences.

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Textbook Question

A friend who works in a research lab performed a GWAS and discovered a tight association between a SNP allele and the disease she is studying. She concluded that the SNP allele must be the mutation that causes the disease. Explain why she is likely to be wrong.

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Textbook Question

Revolutionaries executed Nicholas II, the last czar of Russia, along with his wife and five children, the family physician, and about a dozen servants. Many decades later, a grave said to hold the remains of the royal family was discovered. Biologists were asked to analyze DNA from the bodies. If the remains of the family were in this grave, predict how similar the DNA fingerprints would be between the parents, the children, and the unrelated individuals in the grave.

Potato blight causes potato plants to shrivel and rot. The disease is caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans, infamous for its role in Ireland's Great Potato Famine in the mid-1840s. The disease can devastate crops during wet weather, sometimes leading to total crop loss. Researchers aim to use recombinant DNA methods to transfer blight resistance genes from resistant varieties into susceptible varieties of potato.Transgenic plants usually contain genes of bacterial plasmid origin. In a recent study, researchers designed a strategy that avoided using any plasmid genes. They transformed cells from a susceptible potato variety with a potato blight resistance gene cloned from a resistant variety. Next, to determine which plants from this group were also free of plasmid DNA (cloning vector) sequences, they performed PCR using primers specific for the plasmid. The positive control lane shows PCR amplification of plasmid DNA only, and the negative control lane shows an attempted PCR amplification of no added DNA. Based on the gel analysis of PCR products shown below, which plants contain only the potato gene? Explain your answer.

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