1.
Parasites lack genes for many of the enzymes found in their hosts. Most parasites, however, have evolved from free-living ancestors that had large genomes. Based on these observations, W. Ford Doolittle claims that the loss of genes in parasites represents an evolutionary trend. He summarizes his hypothesis with the quip "use it or lose it." What does he mean?
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2.
When data first revealed that many eukaryotic genomes were dominated by repeated sequences that did not code for products used by the organisms, many researchers began referring to the sequences as "junk DNA.’’ Is this an appropriate term? Defend your answer.
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3.
According to eyewitness accounts, communist revolutionaries executed the last czar of Russia along with his wife and three children, the family physician, and several servants. Many decades after this event, a grave purporting to hold the remains of the royal family was identified. Biologists were asked to analyze DNA from each skeleton and determine if the bodies were indeed those of several young siblings, two parents, and several unrelated individuals. If the grave were authentic, describe what the DNA fingerprints of each person would look like relative to the fingerprints of other individuals in the grave.
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4.
Suppose that you are writing a proposal to a funding agency to request funding for a whole-genome sequencing project. Describe why you chose the organism you did, and how the data that result from your project will justify the expense involved.
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