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As we age, our cells undergo numerous divisions, which increases the likelihood of DNA replication errors. Additionally, the efficiency of DNA repair mechanisms declines over time, allowing more mutations to persist. Environmental factors, such as exposure to UV light and toxins, also contribute to the accumulation of DNA damage. Together, these processes lead to an increased burden of mutations in our cells as we grow older.
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What happens as the cancer cells accumulate more mutations?
As cancer cells accumulate more mutations, they tend to become increasingly aggressive and resistant to treatments. These mutations can lead to enhanced growth rates, the ability to evade the immune system, and the potential for metastasis, where cancer spreads to other parts of the body. Additionally, the genetic diversity among mutated cells can create challenges for effective treatment, as different subclones may respond differently to therapies. Ultimately, the accumulation of mutations contributes to the complexity and heterogeneity of tumors, making them more difficult to manage.
Do neutral mutations affect biodiversity?
Neutral mutations do not have a significant impact on biodiversity because they do not affect an organism's ability to survive and reproduce. Biodiversity is mainly influenced by mutations that provide a fitness advantage or disadvantage, leading to changes in the frequency of different traits within a population. Neutral mutations simply accumulate over time without impacting biodiversity directly.
What can accumulate over successive generations to contribute to biological diversity?
Various mutations that occur over many, many generations will lead to different species. This is called speciation.
How do mutation effect future generations?
Mutations can be passed on to future generations through genetic inheritance. Depending on the type of mutation, it can have varying effects on the offspring, from no impact to significant changes in the phenotype or overall health of the individual. Over time, these mutations can accumulate and contribute to genetic diversity within a population.
Why do molecule clocks use mutations that have no effect on phenotype?
Molecular clocks use mutations that have no effect on phenotype because these neutral mutations accumulate at a relatively constant rate over time, providing a reliable measure of evolutionary time. Since they do not influence the organism's survival or reproduction, they are less likely to be subject to natural selection, allowing for a clearer understanding of genetic divergence. This stability makes them ideal for estimating the timing of evolutionary events and the relationships among species.
Why do different mutations accumulate in two species once they diverge?
Because they can no longer mate and swap the mutation
Why are only neutral mutations useful for molecular clocks?
Neutral mutations are the most reliable for molecular clocks because they accumulate in the genome at a relatively constant rate over time. This allows researchers to estimate the time since species divergence or the timing of evolutionary events. Non-neutral mutations can interfere with these estimates by being under selective pressure, which can lead to inconsistencies in the molecular clock calculations.
How do genomes of species change?
Genomes can change through mutations, which are alterations in the DNA sequence. These mutations can arise randomly or be induced by external factors like radiation or chemicals. Over time, these changes can accumulate and drive evolution by providing genetic variation for natural selection to act on.
What happens as the cancer cells accumulate more mutations?
As cancer cells accumulate more mutations, they tend to become increasingly aggressive and resistant to treatments. These mutations can lead to enhanced growth rates, the ability to evade the immune system, and the potential for metastasis, where cancer spreads to other parts of the body. Additionally, the genetic diversity among mutated cells can create challenges for effective treatment, as different subclones may respond differently to therapies. Ultimately, the accumulation of mutations contributes to the complexity and heterogeneity of tumors, making them more difficult to manage.
Why are there many molecular clocks in one genome instead of just one?
This occurs because some genes accumulate mutations faster than others.
What is the main idea behind the model of of a molecular clock?
The main idea behind the model of a molecular clock is that neutral mutations accumulate at a steady rate.
How can we speculate on how mutations cause changes that manifest over many generations?
Scientists can study how mutations cause changes over many generations by observing the genetic variations that accumulate in populations over time. By analyzing the frequency of mutations and their effects on traits, researchers can speculate on how these changes lead to evolutionary shifts in species.
Do neutral mutations affect biodiversity?
Neutral mutations do not have a significant impact on biodiversity because they do not affect an organism's ability to survive and reproduce. Biodiversity is mainly influenced by mutations that provide a fitness advantage or disadvantage, leading to changes in the frequency of different traits within a population. Neutral mutations simply accumulate over time without impacting biodiversity directly.
How does helpful variation accumulate in a species?
*Variation appears mainly due to mutations and it accumulates via natural selection.* Re check this answer, its not answering it! I had hw. on it and it was wrong. Change it.
What can accumulate over successive generations to contribute to biological diversity?
Various mutations that occur over many, many generations will lead to different species. This is called speciation.
On what concept does the molecular clock rely?
The molecular clock relies on the idea that mutations in DNA accumulate at a relatively constant rate over time. By analyzing these mutations, scientists can estimate the time at which different species diverged from a common ancestor.
How can Darwinain evolution be true if more than 99 percent of genetic mutations are retrogressive?
Darwinian evolution works very slowly over hundreds of generations. Though 99percent of mutations may be lost through natural selection the remaining 1 percent positive mutations will eventually, given sufficient time, improve the fit of the species to it's environment.
