The Blue People of Troublesome Creek Daryl Hardnett Shaundra Mattox Termerion McCrary

In this lesson students will - Understand basic principles of heredity Understand basic principles of heredity Discuss microevolution and decide whether the blue people of Appalachia are “evolving”. Discuss microevolution and decide whether the blue people of Appalachia are “evolving”.

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Meet the Fugates… Martin Fugate had methemoglobinemia, a condition that results in abnormal hemoglobin Martin Fugate had methemoglobinemia, a condition that results in abnormal hemoglobin

Meet the Fugates A symptom of this condition is “blue skin” which is due to the absence of the enzyme diaforase, a necessary enzyme that converts methemoglobin to hemoglobin A symptom of this condition is “blue skin” which is due to the absence of the enzyme diaforase, a necessary enzyme that converts methemoglobin to hemoglobin

Meet the Fugates… Martin married a carrier of the disease and they bore seven children; four of which were blue Martin married a carrier of the disease and they bore seven children; four of which were blue The condition is inherited as a recessive trait and would appear most often in an inbred line The condition is inherited as a recessive trait and would appear most often in an inbred line

Fugate Pedigree

Geographic Isolation… The people of Troublesome Creek were isolated from the rest of the country. When the town was settled there were no roads, making it hard to get out and people tended to intermarry The people of Troublesome Creek were isolated from the rest of the country. When the town was settled there were no roads, making it hard to get out and people tended to intermarry One of Martin’s sons married his maternal aunt and 100 years later Benjy Fugate was born One of Martin’s sons married his maternal aunt and 100 years later Benjy Fugate was born As railroads and development swept through, the blue Fugates started moving out of Troublesome Creek and marrying other people As railroads and development swept through, the blue Fugates started moving out of Troublesome Creek and marrying other people The inherited blue began to disappear as the recessive gene spread to families where it is unlikely to be paired to a similar gene The inherited blue began to disappear as the recessive gene spread to families where it is unlikely to be paired to a similar gene

Suggestions Allele frequencies must change between generations Allele frequencies must change between generations –Drop West Nile –Do gene flow; another cup with alleles Maps; History Maps; History Punnett Square Punnett Square –2 cups: Male & Female cups