DNA Sequence Analysis and Evolutionary Relationships Quiz

Study Notes

DNA can be used to show evolutionary relationships between species
DNA is found in the nucleus, mitochondria and chloroplasts of cells
Differences between the nucleotide sequences (DNA) of different species can provide a lot of information: for example, two groups of organisms with very similar DNA will have separated into separate species more recently than two groups with less similarity in their DNA sequences.
DNA sequence analysis and comparison can also be used to create family trees that show the evolutionary relationships between species.
Mitochondrial DNA is only passed on or inherited by the zygote, and there is no crossing over that occurs in mtDNA
The lack of crossing over in mtDNA has allowed scientists to research the origins of species, genetic drift and migration events
Mitochondrial Eve is thought to have lived in Africa ~200,000 years ago based on the molecular clock theory
The estimation of this date relies on the molecular clock theory, which assumes there is a constant rate of mutation over time
Fossils and carbon dating can be used to calibrate the molecular clock
Paternal mtDNA may also be present in zygotes, which is recent research.