Classification using DNA or Proteins

• Which technologies are used to clarify evolutionary relationships?

  • Genome sequencing
  • Comparing amino acid sequence
  • Immunological comparisons
• What is genome sequencing?

  • The base sequence if an organism's DNA can be determined
  • The DNA base sequence of one organism can then be compared to another to see how closely related they are
• How is comparing amino acid sequence used?

  • Proteins are made up of amino acids
  • The sequence of amino acids in a protein is coded for by the base sequence in DNA
  • Related organisms have similar DNA sequences so similar amino acids in their proteins
• How do immunological comparisons work?

  Similar proteins will also bind the same antibodies
• What is genetic diversity?

  The number of different alleles in a population