Question

True or false: “The change from a T to a C at position 3 caused all of the changes that exist between

the cichlid and coelacanth/frog.” Explain your answer.

Answer 1

The above statement is false.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a single nucleotide is changed at a particular position of the nucleotide sequence, then this change will result in the formation of a faulty protein.

This is because that particular position of the genetic sequence is associated with the formation of a particular protein. All the other proteins formed will be normal.

Hence, we cannot attribute all existing changes between the cichlid and coelacanth/frog on this single nucleotide change.

However, if instead of replacement of a T with a C, an addition or deletion had been made, then the entire genetic code would have been altered. This would have resulted in more number of faulty proteins being formed.