DNA Divergence is in How You Count

It�s a common misconception that chimp DNA differs from Homo sapiens sapiens genes by only a single percent, but this number is apocryphal. In actuality, the degree of similarity of human and chimp genetic code depends mostly on how you count. Since all complex organisms from Earth possess great swaths of junk DNA inherited from a distant common ancestor, there tends to be startling similarity between many organisms. Sure, humans are like chimps�but they�re also like flatworms and fruit flies. (Which may explain some of the encounters I�ve had with biocons.) Also, it�s important to remember that DNA isn�t the sole determinant of genetic expression. Epigenesis (the changes in an organism caused by mechanisms other than DNA) plays a significant role in determining phenotype. And let�s be honest, apes that grow up on a diet of bananas and termites are going to develop differently than apes that grow up on a steady diet of Red Dye Number Five.

Notes:

There's much more to the differences between Chimps and Humans than counting genes.

Folksonomies: dna genetic drift

Taxonomies:
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Keywords:
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Entities:
Homo sapiens:FieldTerminology (0.976482 (neutral:0.000000))

Eclipse Phase - Panopticon

Books, Brochures, and Chapters>Book: Boyle , Rob and Cross, Brian (2011-06-15), Eclipse Phase - Panopticon, Retrieved on 2013-06-17

Source Material [books.google.com]

Folksonomies: futurism rpg

Schemas

17 MAY 2011

Comparing Ourselves to Other Animals

Examples of authors referring to animals in nature for insights into human nature.

Folksonomies: nature evolution enlightenment science naturalism