Question

From Darwin to DNA: The Genetic Basis of Color Adaptations by Hopi Hoekstra ( Article Link: https://nescent.org/media/NABT2010/pdf/Hoekstra.pdf)

How can Darwin be linked to Francis Crick, the co-recipient of the Nobel Prize for modeling the three-dimensional structure of DNA?

Use Figure 1 to distinguish between Proximate and Ultimate questions in Biology.

Pick a question from Box 1 that is most interesting to you. State the question and explain your

interest.

What were the 3 main findings from the study of the adaptive significance of color variation?

What is the difference between forward and reverse genetics?

What is the role of Mc1r in determining pigmentation? What is the prediction for Mc1r activity

in beach mice?

Why is Figure 6 C the accepted cladogram including multiple origins of light color?

Is the mechanism (gene mutation) leading to light fur color the same for the Gulf and Atlantic

coast species?

What point was the author making when discussing wooly mammoths, fence lizards and the

snow goose (Figure 7)?

What did you find most interesting about the article?

Answer those question, please.

Answer 1

Ans 1 How can Darwin be linked to Francis Crick, the co-recipient of the Nobel Prize for modeling the three-dimensional structure of DNA?

Sequencing of Darwin' DNA, provided the missing link to Darwin’s theory about descent with modification—evolution by the process of natural selection and this DNA text which we can find support for almost all of Darwin’s ideas through nucleotide sequences which explained by genetic basis of colour adaptation.

Ans 2 distinguish between Proximate and Ultimate questions in Biology

Proximate explanations focus on things that occur during the life of an individual. Ultimate explanations focus on things that occur in populations over many generations.

Ans 3

Pick a question from Box 1 that is most interesting to you. State the question and explain your

interest.

my interesting question is

Are the same genes and mutations responsible for similar traits in different populations or species?

Explaination

Convergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar features in species of different lineages. . The recurrent evolution of flight is a classic example, as flying insects, birds, pterosaurs, and bats have independently evolved the useful capacity of flight. Functionally similar features that have arisen through convergent evolution are analogous. This is only occur by same gene for similar traits in different populations or species.

Ans 4 What were the 3 main findings from the study of the adaptive significance of color variation?

First, camouflaging color decreases predation, and this survival advantage is symmetrical—dark models on light soil experience the same relative increase in predation as do light models on dark soil. In this both beach and mainland mice have evolved camouflage in their local environments, even if beach mice have done so more recently.

Second, the advantage that camouflaging color affords mice is large—camouflaged mice have a 50% higher probability of “survival” compared to mismatched mice. So, color matters a lot for survival.

Third, about half of the predation events could be attributed to a mammalian predator (e.g., foxes and coyotes) and half to an avian predator (e.g., owls, herons, and hawks). So, both mammals and birds were the agents of selection. In sum, this very simple experiment nicely demonstrates that color, and camouflaging color specifically, has a large effect on fitness in these mice.

Ans 5 What is the difference between forward and reverse genetics?

Forward genetics it is the classical approach. notice a phenotype, investigate what gene(s) or locus/loci are involved.
Broadly speaking: Phenotype -> genotype

Reverse genetics is just the opposite.  Genotype -> phenotype. generate the genotype (e.g. based on a candidate gene), then figure out the phenotype, which may already be expected. Targeted knock-outs and transgenics are examples.