Advancing Evolution:Gene Corruption

From Activating Evolution

In biology, mutations are changes to the base pair sequence of genetic material (either DNA or, for some viruses, RNA). Mutations can be caused by copying errors in the genetic material during cell division and by exposure to ultraviolet or ionizing radiation, chemical mutagens, or viruses, or can occur deliberately under cellular control during processes such as meiosis or hyper-mutation. In multicellular organisms, mutations can be subdivided into germ-line mutations, which can be passed on to descendants, and somatic mutations. The somatic mutations cannot be transmitted to descendants in animals. Plants sometimes can transmit somatic mutations to their descendants asexually or sexually (in case when flower buds develop in somatically mutated part of plant).

Mutations create variation in the gene pool, and the less favorable (or deleterious) mutations are removed from the gene pool by natural selection, while more favorable (beneficial or advantageous) ones tend to accumulate, resulting in evolutionary change. For example, a butterfly may develop offspring with a new mutation caused say by ultraviolet light from the sun. In most cases, this mutation is not good, since obviously there was no 'purpose' for such change at the molecular level. However, sometimes a mutation may change, say, the butterfly's color, making it harder for predators to see it; this is an advantage and the chances of this butterfly surviving and producing its own offspring are a little better, and over time the number of butterflies with this mutation may form a large percentage of the species. Neutral mutations are defined as mutations whose effects do not influence the fitness of either the species or the individuals who make up the species. These can accumulate over time due to genetic drift. The overwhelming majority of mutations have no significant effect, since DNA repair is able to mend most changes before they become permanent mutations, and many organisms have mechanisms for eliminating otherwise permanently mutated somatic cells.

1 Theories
2 Mitochondrial DNA
3 Related Pages
4 References

[edit] Theories

The effects of tritiated water (HTO), and, more importantly, organically-bound tritium (OBT) on a cell's dna has been documented, and exposure to tritium may have genetic developmental and/or heritable effects. First, HTO acts a lot like water, since tritium is an isotope of hydrogen, but HTO's radioactive. And OBT, where tritium takes the place of hydrogen in molecules (and hydrogen is plentiful in a person's body, and around dna), can be problematic. Its presence can cause single and double-strand breaks in dna. Don't know what that looks like, but couldn't that mean a portion of the dna can look just like an "s" with some horizontal lines (where some C's, T's, A's or G's would go)? Like a helical Symbol, perhaps? Some research about tritium (or 3H, which Ted can produce) and other speculative ideas, such as a possible meteoritic element/storyline as an explanation for the evolution of life (courtesy of a Professor David Kring), although some of the ideas are fallible and easily debunked, has been posted in this thread. Specifically, more about tritium can be found in posts #6, #48, and #51, and examples of the speculations that either led to the meteorite connection or other "discoveries" can be found in posts #14, #25, and #46.

[edit] Mitochondrial DNA

The mitochondria keeps its own DNA, which divide separately from the host DNA. Despite having been in our cells since long before we were multicellular beings, the mitochondria acts like a house guest with its bags constantly packed, as though things may not work out between us after millions of years together. And, indeed, perhaps they won't, as is suggested by sudden anomalistic abilities evidenced. Perhaps the mitochondria has finally chosen a side.