Shortcut Methods
Genetics and Evolution: Numerical Facts
-
DNA Structure and Replication
- Size of DNA:
- Human genome: approximately 3 billion base pairs
- Replication Rate:
- Average replication rate: 500-1000 nucleotides per second
- Size of DNA:
-
RNA Structure and Transcription
- RNA Types:
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) carries genetic code from DNA to ribosomes
- Transfer RNA (tRNA) brings amino acids to the ribosome
- Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a component of ribosomes
- Transcription Rate:
- Similar to DNA replication rate (around 500-1000 nucleotides per second)
- RNA Types:
-
Genetic Code
- Number of Codons:
- Total: 64 possible codons
- Number of Codons:
-
Protein Synthesis and Translation
- Translation Rate:
- Prokaryotes: approximately 10-20 amino acids per second
- Eukaryotes: about 2-5 amino acids per second
- Translation Rate:
-
Gene Expression Regulation
- Operons:
- Functional units of genes in prokaryotes
- Allow coordinated regulation of gene expression
- Operons:
-
DNA Repair Mechanisms
- Mutation Rates:
- Average mutation rate in humans: around 1 mutation per 100 million base pairs per generation
- Mutation Rates:
-
Evolution and Phylogenetic Analysis
- Molecular Clock:
- Certain regions of DNA or proteins evolve at a constant rate over time
- Comparing these sequences helps infer evolutionary distances and phylogenetic relationships
- Neutral Theory of Evolution:
- Genetic variation is the result of neutral mutations that do not affect an organism’s fitness
- Molecular Clock:
