We have spoken a lot about the changes epigenetics brings to our cells and thus our bodies. We have also spoken about the concept that it is not really about us but our DNA. Life anywhere is about the DNA. If we think back DNA started before single cell organisms and involved into cells then more complex organisms and finally humans. Are we the end of DNA’s line? I don’t think so. DNA is a marvelous system designed to incorporate changes to its environment. It does this via natural selection. This is how we all have evolved. But what are these changes that it selects? I believe they are the epigenetic changes in our cells. They react instantly to everyday changes. Most of these changes are small and may be temporary. Some changes like changing climate or diet or long-term and cause DNA to be triggered to counter balance the changes. If these changes cause the organism’s heritage to survive longer, they are eventually made to the base DNA. There are no good or bad changes. Changing our epigenetics may make us survive an event better but it may also cause a problem like cancer. Eventually an organism evolves with a modified DNA that allows the survival changes but not the cancer. If this happens that organism is naturally selected to move on. From a cell point of view we are not much different from a yeast cell. They have about 50% the same DNA as we do. UPDATE NOTE THE PERCENTAGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BREWERS YEAST AND HUMANS IS MORE LIKE 30%!
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Jan 27, 2011 @ 08:15:03
Feb 01, 2011 @ 08:47:09
Feb 18, 2011 @ 08:20:40
Sep 28, 2012 @ 21:11:47
Can you give a citation for your last sentence?
“[Yeast] have about 50% the same DNA as we do.”
Oct 01, 2012 @ 13:27:25
The 50% is a mis-print it should be 31% for brewers yeast. On page 47 of my book there is a table of common dna between various organisms. Yeast DNA varies among yeast types much more than the difference between human and ape DNA. I have listed some references below. Remember different yeast types can be significantly different in DNA. There is also a difference in how you look at comparing DNA. Size, Number of chromosomes, pairs, etc.
http://ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/faq/compgen.shtml under “What are the comparative genome sizes of humans and other organisms being studied?”
estimated size
(base pairs) estimated
gene number average gene density chromosome
number
Homo sapiens
(human) 3.2 billion ~25,000 1 gene per 100,000 bases 46
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
(yeast) 12.1 million 6000 1 gene per 2000 bases 32
http://www.carolguze.com/text/442-1-humangenome.shtml 30%
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21120/ very detailed study between human fruit fly and yeast measuring by many different ways
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/yeast.aspx – says 25%
I hope this helps you.