Archive for May, 2007

The next meeting will be in C27-B259 in the Booth block on Friday, 25th May 2007 from 12 to 1pm. http://mcs.une.edu.au/~cwatson7/I/Agenda200705.htm

A brief overview of Digital Communications Technology will precede discussion on cost-neutral improvement of our virtual infrastructure. http://mcs.une.edu.au/~cwatson7/I/VirtualInfrastructure.ppt

Everyone is welcome.

Future meetings will be in C27-B259, Booth block from 12 to 1pm on the last Friday of the month:

• Friday 29th June 2007
• Friday 27th July 2007
• Friday 31st August 2007
• Friday 28th September 2007
• Friday 26th October 2007
• Friday 30th November 2007

We can deduce evolution by comparing differences in genetic sequences to distinguish individuals, families, tribes and species. Divergence is dated by estimating elapsed time from the number of minor differences between sequences. Comparative analyses of rRNA suggest the living world is divided into three domains: Eucarya, Archaea and Bacteria. Comparison of human mitochondrial DNA points to our maternal ancestor. Some genes, such as KTN1, have  highly conserved structure. Changes are seen by comparing homologous sequences in different species. The ancient process of gene formation is locked into modern DNA like buried fossils.

KTN1 has a 7-fold replication of DNA with exon sizes 69, 38 and 91. The corresponding intron phase pattern is 00200200200200200200200. This pattern is highly conserved in vertebrates, so alignment of coding sequences is unambiguous. Deletion of codons, introns and transition and transversion of nucleotides is clearly seen. Natural selection has conserved the coil structure and function of this gene. By comparing the evolutionarily “neutral” differences between sequences we deduce divergence of vertebrate species including human (Hs), dog (Cf), mouse (Mm), rat (Rn), chicken (Gg) and zebra fish (Dr). The 7-block creation occurred before the divergence of fish and mammals.

See: http://mcs.une.edu.au/~cwatson7/I/KinectinPhylogeny.htm