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Biological Anthropology On Cells, DNA, Proteins, and Populations
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Cell Theory A set of explanatory principles used to understand cells Cells are the smallest unit of life Consist of smaller (non-alive) parts: organelles
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A Cell
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Two Types of Cells Somatic cells The vast majority of cells in our bodies Reproduce through mitosis Sex Cells (gametes) Only found in ovaries and testes Reproduce through meiosis
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Two Types of Cell Division Mitosis Occurs in somatic cells Produces 2 daughter cells Genetically identical diploid Meiosis Occurs in sex cells (gametes) Produces 4 daughter cells Genetically unique haploid
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Mitosis Asexual reproduction Occurs in somatic cells Produces 2 genetically identical diploid daughter cells
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Meiosis Occurs in sex cells (gametes) Produces 4 daughter cells Genetically unique haploid
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Crossing-Over # of fingers 6556 cerumen wet dry ABO group AAOO
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Cell Division Mitosis Meiosis
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Karyotype Species-specific set of chromosomes Differs from species to species in terms of The number of chromosomes The sequences of genes contained in the chromosomes
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Human karyotype 46 chromosomes Arranged in 23 pairs 1 set from each parent
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Human karyotype Autosomes Pairs 1-22 Are homologous same length same sequence of genes (may be different alleles)
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Human karyotype Sex chromosomes Pair 23 X & Y X longer than Y XX – homologous XY – partially homologous
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So what’s in a chromosome?
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Let’s take a look!
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A chromosome contains genes
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and genes contain… Deoxyribonucleic Acid Present in all living organisms Amount varies from organism to organism Species can read each others’ DNA
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DNA Sugar-phosphate backbone” Bases are “rungs” adenine = thymine cytosine = guanine
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Genome the total DNA/genes of a species Homo sapiens app. 3,000,000,000 DNA bases 35,000 – 40,000 genes Honeybee – 300,000,000 DNA bases Fruit fly – 13,600 genes Bacteria – a few hundred to a few thousand genes
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DNA Replication Produces two identical strands from one original strand Each side of the original is a template for making a new copy of its complement
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The Three Problems 1.How is the variation present within a species at any time affected by the environment? Darwin 2.How is variation passed on from one generation to the next? Mendel 3.Where does variation come from? Watson & Crick
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But what are genes used for?
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Protein Synthesis A two stage process Transcription Translation Our players: Messenger RNA (mRNA) – the locks Transfer RNA (tRNA) – the keys Ribosome (“locksmith) Amino Acids
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Protein Synthesis 1: Transcription messenger RNA (mRNA) copy of gene is made mRNA copy leaves nucleus and goes to cytoplasm
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Protein Synthesis 2: Translation mRNA copy is “read” by ribosomes Ribosomes match tRNA to codons on mRNA
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Proteins: the End Result One gene codes for one protein Differences between individuals due (in part) to differences in their proteins
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Protein Synthesis, once again… A two stage process 1) transcription 2) translation The process whereby the DNA message is converted into a protein product
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for more information… Web sites http://www.dnalc.org/resources/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ http://www.johnkyrk.com/ http://www.youtube.com/ Key words DNA replication Protein synthesis DNA translation Transcription
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and now let’s turn to… Population Genetics
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Population A (potentially) interbreeding group of organisms (usually) a subset of a species
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“Populations” Differ
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How Should We Describe Populations? Monogenic Traits Qualitative Discontinuous graph Polygenic Traits Quantitative Continuous graph
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Use Polygenic Traits? Advantage: often easily observable Disadvantage: can change over an individual’s life time Poorly suited for population studies
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Racism A social/cultural phenomenon Attempts to distinguish between human populations on the basis of polygenic traits Used to justify hierarchies within society Is not based on scientifically valid criteria
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Use Monogenic Traits! Disadvantage: not always easily observable Advantage: do not change over an individual’s life time Useful in the study of populations Genetic Markers = monogenic traits in which the genotype is known
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Genetic polymorphism When two or more phenotypes exist within a population that means that the population exhibits variation for that trait and variation is what makes evolution possible
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Adaptation a trait that increases an organism’s reproductive success What adaptation is being measured here? How might this adaptation increase an individual’s reproductive success?
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Adaptation (a classic example) The wing color of the Peppered Moth is a monogenic trait
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Adaptation produced by natural selection in the context of a particular environment A light variant mating with a dark variant Light and dark variants on light and dark backgrounds
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Adaptation produced by natural selection in the context of a particular environment Smokestacks during the Industrial Revolution
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Evolution defined A change in allele frequency from one generation to another drum roll please…
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This means that… the unit of selection is the individual while the unit of evolution is the population
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Population Genetics Studies how evolution occurs in populations of organisms Population – a (geographically localized) group of individuals in a species that share a common gene pool and tend to find their mates within this group
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What are the factors that could influence the evolution of our population? Founder’s effect Natural selection Mutation Migration Assortative mating Positive negative Genetic drift
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Founder’s effect How well would we represent the population from which we are derived? SoCal!
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Natural Selection Do blondes have more fun (and more early onset skin cancer)? Is it better to be redder? Hereditary diseases, anyone? Other possibilities?
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Mutation Random mutations Heightened mutation rates? Cosmic rays? Uranium ore
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Migration Do some people leave? Do others arrive? Did some “visit”? Gene flow vs. migration Hypothesized migration pattern of the Pacific Islands
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Assortative Mating Positive Assortative Mating phenotypically similar organisms increases homozygosity decreases variation Negative Assortative Mating phenotypically dissimilar organisms increases heterozygosity increases variation
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Genetic Drift the random factor, or “joker in the deck”
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A genetic bottleneck reduces a population temporarily to very low levels, removing much of its genetic diversity.
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Mutiny on the Bounty by Robert Dodd (artist & engraver); 2 Oct., 1790
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In 1790, 9 Bounty mutineers plus 18 Tahitians (six men, 11 women and a baby) fled to Pitcairn Island
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The Pitcairn Islanders today app. 60 people (the smallest democracy in the world!)
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