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DNA Sequencing: An Evolutionary Study

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Molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing have improved the understanding of relationships between different groups of animals, and mechanisms underlying evolutionary change. The advancement in technology has gradually changed the scientific concepts generated about evolutionary relationships. Techniques such as DNA hybridisation (as shown in the picture below), amino acid sequencing and the analysis of the antibody-antigen reaction between species have shown the similarities of evolved organisms. The new comparison of genetic data from dogs, finches and humans reveals relationships that were once unclear. The comparison showed the likeness in how they form their chromosomes, it is clear that the formation is much like that of humans. When scientists analysed the DNA of the 3 organisms, it was …show more content…

A study was commenced to prove this theory, where the DNA of a human was heated and broken apart and cooled so that it would combine with chimp DNA. It was found that the temperature taken to break the strands was 99% of the original temperature, this tells scientists that chimps and humans have around about the same nucleotides. DNA hybridisation:
DNA hybridisation identifies the similarities between two groups of organisms by comparing their DNA using the following process:
1. 2 Strands of DNA are collected from 2 different species.
2. The strands of DNA are then heated to cause the strands to separate.
3. One strand from each organism is combined together to form a hybrid. However, not all of the bases match up.
4. It is observed that if a high proportion of bases match up, then it is proven that the species are highly similar and more than likely that they came from the same ancestor. If a low proportion of the bases match up then the two species are not

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