DNA provides evidence of evolution

genome

complete set of genetic material in a cell

comparative genomics

comparison of genome sequences of different species

endogenous retrovirus

retrovirus that has beocme part of an organism’s genome and exists in evry cell of body

reverse transcription

process where the base sequence in RNA is copied during the synthesis of DNA

mitochondrial DNA

DNA foudn in the mitochodnria of the cells, rather than nucleus

how many genes are in mtDNA

37

explain why we have no mtDNA from daddy

eggs have hundreds of mitochondria while sperm has about 100. once sperms has penetrated egg the organelle is destroyed. so we inherit nuclear DNA from both parents but just mtDNA from mummy.

how can mtDNA be used to prove evolution

higher mutation chance than nuclear DNA. Therefore human mtDNA has been slowly changing form og mtDNA of female ancestor. Scientists compare to find similarities and estimate closeness of relationship. if mtDNA is identical then they have a close common maternal ancestor, if it is different then their last common ancestor lived a long time ago.