× Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask a question
Top Posters
Since Sunday
g
3
3
2
J
2
p
2
m
2
h
2
s
2
r
2
d
2
l
2
a
2
Home Q & A Board Biology-Related Homework Help Genetics and Developmental Biology
New Topic  
barry barry
wrote...
Posts: 11630
Rep: 151 1
13 years ago
This is for my developmental biology class...

Fugu is a vertebrate like humans, with many of the same complex structures and organ systems. However, unlike humans the size of the Fugu genome is a mere 400 Mb compared to the 3000 Mb of humans. What are two likely explanations for this difference? What does this say about genome size?

How do I go about answering this question  Person Raising Both Hands in Celebration

PS. Isn't this from a Simpsons episode?
Read 3901 times
3 Replies

Related Topics

Replies
wrote...
#1
Staff Member
13 years ago
Hey, welcome to the forum!

This question is a typical developmental biology question asked to undergrads...

Remember that the difference of genome size is due almost entirely to a reduction, not in the numbers, but in the sizes of the introns, and the sizes of the regions of noncoding DNA that lie between genes. So it is likely that this species has managed to rid itself of most of the noncoding DNA (the introns)...
- Master of Science in Biology
- Bachelor of Science
wrote...
#2
Educator
13 years ago
Quote from: barry (13 years ago)
PS. Isn't this from a Simpsons episode?

yep it's when homer gets poisoned  Face with Stuck-out Tongue
wrote...
#3
Valued Member
13 years ago
Yeh so, somehow Fugu has either managed to rid itself of most of the noncoding DNA that clutters the genome of species such as humans (Junk DNA), or has managed to avoid accumulating this DNA in the first place due to less selective pressure in a stable habitat. The reason the two species share similar structures is because of conserved exons and conserved segments of regulatory DNA. Overall, genome size does not necessarily imply that the organism is more or less complex since the bulk of our junk DNA is actually junk.
````````````````````
New Topic      
Quick Reply
Explore
Post your homework questions and get free online help from our incredible volunteers
  934 People Browsing
 152 Signed Up Today
Start New Topic Take the Tour CoursesNew Study Tools Topics Trending Browse by Textbook
Live Chat
Related Images
  
 139
  
 768
  
 111
Your Opinion
What's your favorite math subject?
Votes: 293
Previous poll results: Do you trust social media networks with protecting your privacy?