Jillian - Slide 3: The structure and function of cellular components can be used as evidence for evolution. The two fields that contribute to molecular evolution research are molecular biology and biochemistry. Molecular biology is the study of cellular components such as proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids. Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes in organisms. These two fields of science act as evidence because they show that organisms …show more content…
The combination of these two components results in the formation of a precipitate. The characteristics of the precipitate show the relationship between the organism that gave the blood serum and the organism that was injected with the blood serum. A precipitate with diluted antigens means that the two organisms have a strong genetic relationship. A precipitate with less diluted antigens means that the two organisms have a weak genetic relationship. Overall, the greater the reaction in the test tube, the stronger the genetic relationship.
Slide 17: Here is an example of a serological test with humans and chimpanzees. The human blood serum is injected into the chimpanzee. The serum acts as the antigen which causes the chimpanzee to produce antibodies. The two components combine so that the antibodies can fight off the antigens. This forms a precipitate which will have diluted antigens therefore humans and chimpanzees have a strong genetic relationship.
Slide 18 and 19:Cytochrome C acts as another form of molecular evidence for evolution. Cytochrome C is a protein located in the mitochondria that helps transport electrons during cellular respiration. Cytochrome C is also released during apoptosis which is controlled cell death. The cytochrome c protein is essential to life so it 's present in all living …show more content…
The remaining 93 amino acids in the protein sequence can differ in organisms because of random mutations that have occurred over generations. Genetic relationships between organisms can be determined by comparing their sequences of the 93 remaining amino acids. Two sequences that have little to no amino acid differences means that the two organisms have a strong genetic relationship. Two sequences that have many amino acid differences means that the two organisms have a weak genetic