A Predictive Test of Common Ancestry Using Molecular Homologies Our second examp

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A Predictive Test of Common Ancestry Using Molecular Homologies Our second example of molecular homology concerns another kind of genetic quirk that might be considered a flaw: processed pseudogenes. Before we explain what processed pseudogenes are, note that most genes in the human genome consist of small coding bits, or exons, separated by noncoding interven ing sequences, or introns. After a gene is transcribed into messenger RNA, the introns have to be spliced out before the message can be translated into protein. Note also that the human genome is littered with retrotransposons, retrovirus- like genetic elements that jump from place to place in the genome via t tion to RNA, reverse transcription to DNA, and insertion at a new site (see Luning Prak and Kazazian 2000). Some of the retrotransposons in our genome are active and encode functional reverse transcriptase Now we can explain that processed pseudogenes are nonfunctional copies of normal genes that originate when processed mRNAs are accidentally reverse transcribed to DNA by reverse transcriptase, then inserted back into the genome

Explanation / Answer

Answer A) Only statents i, ii, iii and v convey accurate information.

Statement iv is wrong because we cannot refute the hypothesis based on a single gene.

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