Question
Biologically, one could use anatomical features, behavior, or molecular similarities and differences in constructing a cladogram. Molecularly, one could look at the number of mutations in a common strand of DNA. Another way would be to compare strings of amino acids and note differences in the order of the amino acids.
Cytochrome c is a protein located in the mitochondria of cells involved with cellular respiration. Below is a table showing the amino acid sequences for cytochrome c in several organisms.
Organism Biochemical Data
Amoeba Amino Acid Sequence: ISO-SER-ASP-GLN-PHE-ILE-LEU-GLN-SER-ARG-LEU-LEU-HIS DNA Sequence: ATTAGCGACCAGTTTATCCTACAATCCCGTCTACTTCAT
Kangaroo Amino Acid Sequence: LEU-ISO-PRO-PRO-PHE-ILE-LEU-LEU-SER-HIS-LEU-LEU-SER DNA Sequence: CTAATCCCCCCGTTTATCCTACTTTCCCATCTACTAAGT
Earthworm Amino Acid Sequence: LEU-ISO-ASP-PRO-PHE-ILE-LEU-HIS-SER-ARG-LEU-LEU-ARG DNA Sequence: CTTATCGACCCGTTTATCCTACATTCCCGTCTACCTTCGT
Cat Amino Acid Sequence: LEU-ISO-PRO-PRO-PHE-ILE-LEU-LEU-SER-HIS-LEU-LEU-SER DNA Sequence: TTAATCCCCCCGTTTATCCTACTTTCCCATCTACTAAGT
Shark Amino Acid Sequence: LEU-ISO-PRO-PRO-PHE-ILE-LEU-LEU-SER-ARG-LEU-LEU-ARG DNA Sequence: CTTATCCCCCCGTTTATCCTACTTTCCCGTCTACTTCGT
Dolphin Amino Acid Sequence: LEU-ISO-PRO-PRO-PHE-ILE-LEU-LEU-SER-HIS-VAL-VAL-SER DNA Sequence: CTAATCCCCCCGTTTATCCTACTTTCCCATGTAGTAAGT
Lizard Amino Acid Sequence: LEU-ISO-PRO-PRO-PHE-ILE-LEU-LEU-SER-ARG-LEU-LEU-ARG DNA Sequence: CTAATCCCCCCGTTTATCCTACTTTCCCGTCTACTTCGT
Sponge Amino Acid Sequence: ISO-ISO-ASP-GLN-PHE-ILE-LEU-HIS-SER-ARG-LEU-LEU-ARG DNA Sequence: ATTATCGACCAGTTTATCCTACATTCCCGTCTACTTCGT
22. The more amino acids that an organism has in common, both type and order, indicates the closer the relationship. The same is true for nucleotides. Compare the biochemical data above. Which organism is most closely related to the lizard? Why?
23. Which organism is most closely related to the Dolphin? Why?
24. How do you think different amino acid sequences would effect organisms? Explain your answer.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
### 22. The organism most closely related to the lizard
The lizard is most closely related to the cat, kangaroo, and earthworm based on the amino acid sequence comparison. However, the cat and kangaroo have similar sequences (differing only in one or two amino acids), which suggests a closer relationship. The cat's amino acid sequence is exactly the same as the kangaroo's (except for the frog), indicating that they might share a more recent common ancestor. Both share the sequence “LEU-ISO-PRO-PRO-PHE-ILE-LEU-LEU-SER…” which is consistent between them.
**Reason:** The cat has the same amino acid sequence as that of the lizard towards the end, particularly the "SER-ARG-LEU-LEU-ARG" sequence, which is also observed in the lizard. Thus, on the basis of the amino acid sequences, the cat, as well as the kangaroo, presents a closer relationship to the lizard.
### 23. The organism most closely related to the dolphin
The organism most closely related to the dolphin is the shark. The dolphin shares a significant portion of its amino acid sequence with the shark, especially in the beginning portion of the sequence. Both share the sequence “LEU-ISO-PRO-PRO-PHE-ILE-LEU-LEU-SER-HIS…” with some differences in the last few amino acids ("VAL-VAL-SER" in dolphin and "ARG-LEU-LEU-ARG" in shark).
**Reason:** Based on the comparison of sequences, the amino acid similarities between the dolphin and shark indicate a closer relationship than with any other organisms presented in the comparison. The sequences are quite similar overall, suggesting a shared evolutionary lineage.
### 24. Effects of different amino acid sequences on organisms
Different amino acid sequences in proteins can significantly affect the structure and function of those proteins, which can lead to differences in the physiology, behavior, and overall fitness of organisms. Here are some key points explaining how different amino acid sequences might affect organisms:
- **Protein function:** Proteins have specific shapes that are determined by their amino acid sequences. Changes in this sequence can alter the fold and shape of the protein, potentially affecting its ability to function. For instance, enzymes might become less efficient, or structural proteins might lose their integrity.
- **Metabolic processes:** If the amino acid sequence in a metabolic enzyme changes, it can impact metabolic pathways. This could affect energy production, nutrient assimilation, and waste removal, leading to differences in an organism's growth and survival.
- **Adaptation and evolution:** Different amino acid sequences may enable organisms to adapt to their environments. For instance, proteins involved in stress responses (like heat shock proteins) may vary between species adapted to different climates, impacting their survival rates.
- **Immune response:** Variations in proteins, particularly those on the surface of pathogens or the immune system, can influence how organisms interact with pathogens and how effective their immune responses are.
- **Phenotypic variation:** Ultimately, different amino acid sequences can lead to variations in traits (phenotypes) expressed by organisms, influencing behaviors, reproductive success, and ecological niche occupation.
Overall, amino acid sequence variations are key drivers of biological diversity and evolution, shaping how organisms interact with their environments and adapt over time.
The lizard is most closely related to the cat, kangaroo, and earthworm based on the amino acid sequence comparison. However, the cat and kangaroo have similar sequences (differing only in one or two amino acids), which suggests a closer relationship. The cat's amino acid sequence is exactly the same as the kangaroo's (except for the frog), indicating that they might share a more recent common ancestor. Both share the sequence “LEU-ISO-PRO-PRO-PHE-ILE-LEU-LEU-SER…” which is consistent between them.
**Reason:** The cat has the same amino acid sequence as that of the lizard towards the end, particularly the "SER-ARG-LEU-LEU-ARG" sequence, which is also observed in the lizard. Thus, on the basis of the amino acid sequences, the cat, as well as the kangaroo, presents a closer relationship to the lizard.
### 23. The organism most closely related to the dolphin
The organism most closely related to the dolphin is the shark. The dolphin shares a significant portion of its amino acid sequence with the shark, especially in the beginning portion of the sequence. Both share the sequence “LEU-ISO-PRO-PRO-PHE-ILE-LEU-LEU-SER-HIS…” with some differences in the last few amino acids ("VAL-VAL-SER" in dolphin and "ARG-LEU-LEU-ARG" in shark).
**Reason:** Based on the comparison of sequences, the amino acid similarities between the dolphin and shark indicate a closer relationship than with any other organisms presented in the comparison. The sequences are quite similar overall, suggesting a shared evolutionary lineage.
### 24. Effects of different amino acid sequences on organisms
Different amino acid sequences in proteins can significantly affect the structure and function of those proteins, which can lead to differences in the physiology, behavior, and overall fitness of organisms. Here are some key points explaining how different amino acid sequences might affect organisms:
- **Protein function:** Proteins have specific shapes that are determined by their amino acid sequences. Changes in this sequence can alter the fold and shape of the protein, potentially affecting its ability to function. For instance, enzymes might become less efficient, or structural proteins might lose their integrity.
- **Metabolic processes:** If the amino acid sequence in a metabolic enzyme changes, it can impact metabolic pathways. This could affect energy production, nutrient assimilation, and waste removal, leading to differences in an organism's growth and survival.
- **Adaptation and evolution:** Different amino acid sequences may enable organisms to adapt to their environments. For instance, proteins involved in stress responses (like heat shock proteins) may vary between species adapted to different climates, impacting their survival rates.
- **Immune response:** Variations in proteins, particularly those on the surface of pathogens or the immune system, can influence how organisms interact with pathogens and how effective their immune responses are.
- **Phenotypic variation:** Ultimately, different amino acid sequences can lead to variations in traits (phenotypes) expressed by organisms, influencing behaviors, reproductive success, and ecological niche occupation.
Overall, amino acid sequence variations are key drivers of biological diversity and evolution, shaping how organisms interact with their environments and adapt over time.
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