Answer:
Constructing phylogenetic trees using molecular data
A transformative tool for phylogenetic analysis is DNA sequencing. This method allows us to compare the sequences of orthologous (evolutionarily related) genes or proteins instead of relying solely on the physical or behavioral traits of organisms.
The fundamental concept behind such comparisons is akin to our previous discussion: there is a common ancestor for the DNA or protein sequence, and it may have undergone changes throughout evolutionary history. However, a gene or protein isn't limited to a singular characteristic that exists in two forms.
Instead, every nucleotide in a gene or each amino acid in a protein can be considered an individual feature that can mutate into multiple forms (e.g., A, T, C, or G for nucleotides). Thus, a gene consisting of 300 nucleotides could be interpreted as having 300 distinct features present in 4 states. The data gleaned from sequence analyses—and consequently, the detail we can achieve in a phylogenetic tree—is significantly greater than when we analyze physical characteristics.
To interpret sequence data and uncover the most likely phylogenetic tree, biologists often employ computer software and statistical algorithms. Generally, when sequences of a gene or protein are compared among species:
A larger count of variations indicates less related species
A smaller count of variations indicates more closely related species
The discovery of numerous new species made it unfeasible to organize them all according to a hierarchy that reflected their complexity.
Answer:
C. They are carried by motor proteins using the cytoskeleton as a "roadway"
Explanation:
Vesicles hitch a ride on molecular motors such as kinesin or myosin, moving along the cytoskeleton until they reach their intended location, where they then fuse with the target membrane or organelle. Typically, vesicles progress from the ER to the cis Golgi, followed by movement from the cis to the medial Golgi, from the medial to the trans Golgi, and finally from the trans Golgi to the plasma membrane or other cellular compartments. While the predominant direction is forward, there are also vesicles that return from the Golgi to the ER, carrying proteins that should have remained in the ER (e.g., PDI) that were inadvertently enclosed in a vesicle.
Answer:
False
Explanation:
If this were indeed accurate, it would threaten the internal balance of our cells; akin to how not all keys fit in locks, not every molecule possesses the "key" needed to transport across the phospholipid bilayer into and out of the intracellular and extracellular fluids. Typically, small hydrophobic ("water-repelling") molecules can traverse this bilayer.
