Mutation rates

      Mutation rates are rather variable for different organisms, depending on if the organism is a multi or unicellular organism, and genome size is also very important. So, I think that mutation rates do evolve since they are having changes over time. Mutation rates line up with Darwin's four postulates which in include: 1) Individuals in a population vary in their traits, 2) Some of that trait variation is inherited from parents to their offspring, 3) More offspring are produced in every generation than can possibly survive, 4) Successful survival and reproduction of those offspring is not random but dependent on the traits they inherited from their parents. Mutation rates evolving can be associated with Darwin's postulates because mutation is the main cause of genetic variation.


       I am thinking that high and low mutation rates can be adaptive if there are extreme conditions in the environment. I believe we discussed it in class that this is how an organism would have to adapt quickly if there were extreme changes in the environment such as a drought, hurricane, etc. I could also see species dying off and the food chain being disrupted to cause adaption to occur quickly. 


Resources used:
https://www.k-state.edu/biology/p2e/the-raw-materials-for-evolution.html


Comments

  1. Victoria Day30 September 2021 at 09:02

    If a disruption was to happen fast like you are saying do you think the species is going to have a faster recovery or a slower one?

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  2. Madison N3 October 2021 at 10:56

    Good outline, but how *exactly* does mutation rate line up with Darwin's four postulates?? What might vary between individuals that causes their mutation rates to differ? How is this variation heritable? And why might such variation be selected for (or against)? (Hint: think about the mechanisms of DNA transcription and replication!)

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  3. Kaitlyn Chappel8 October 2021 at 10:43

    Hi Allison! I agree with your opinion that high and low mutation rates can be adaptive in the case of extreme environmental conditions. The quick adaptation to an extreme change in an environment changes the mutation rate seen in not only droughts, but in cases of air pressure and oxygen levels such as populations of animals and plants living in higher elevations.

    Great job!

    ReplyDelete

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