The Role of Gene Mutation in Human Evolution - 1302 Words

The Role of Gene Mutation in Human Evolution Have you ever looked at a gorilla or a monkey and considered it to be your ancestor? Probably not, but, if you have had that thought then it was probably just because that is what has been taught in our school systems for decades, and probably will be for a long time to come unless proven otherwise. Sure, humans and primates have similar features: facial expressions and structures; fingers; toes; breasts; hair; etc., but there has been no evidence that proves that we are, undoubtedly, a product of natural selection evolving from ape-like species. Ever since the first mentioning of our evolution from such species was introduced, it has been primarily theory, and nothing more.†¦show more content†¦This gene-inactivating mutation was not found in merely a few specimens of humans, it was found in all humans – natives of Africa, South American, Europe, Iceland, Japan, Russia, etc. However, the mutation was not found in the DNA sequences of seven species of non-human pr imates, including Chimpanzees (University of Penn. Medical Center). The particular gene in question is of the Myosin Heavy Chain, MYH16, and is specifically related to muscles in the head, namely chewing and biting muscles. Macaque monkeys, a non-human primate, were studied and were found to have the particular MYH16 gene present, and as predicted, only in its muscles of mastication (chewing muscles). In humans, though, due to the mutation, the protein was not being made, and this explains why humans have smaller and weaker jaw muscles when compared to the Macaque monkey’s, whose jaw muscles are ten times stronger than humans (University of Penn. Medical Center). This decrease in muscle tone is due to the inactivation of MYH16 gene which causes a large reduction in the sizes of the muscles that they’re present in (Currie, 373). This gene-inactivating mutation has been traced back to a hominid ancestor about 2.4 million years ago, and, coincidentally, about 2 milli on years ago, the less muscled, larger brained skulls of the earliest members of the genus Homo began to appear in the fossil record (UniversityShow MoreRelatedEvolution Is The Gradual Change Of Genotype And Phenotype Of Organisms1415 Words   |  6 PagesEvolution is the gradual change of genotype and phenotype of organisms over time in response to selection pressures. 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