Anthropology 130 Online Research Simulation Tarsier Research

Anthropology 130 Online Research Simulation 1tarsier Research Project5

This research simulation will take you through a fictional example of genetic inheritance. Use the textbook and lecture slides on heredity, genetics, biological evolution, and population genetics for information. Enter your answers into the Research Simulation 1 Answer Sheet Word document and upload it to Canvas.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The study of genetics provides profound insights into how traits are inherited and how populations evolve over time. This fictional research on tarsiers in the Philippines exemplifies these principles by exploring fur color inheritance, genetic variation, and evolutionary forces shaping the population. The research aims to understand the genetic mechanisms underlying fur color phenotypes, how these traits are passed from parents to offspring, and the evolutionary factors influencing their frequency within the population.

Hypothesis and Scientific Process

Explaining to a curious child, a hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction about how something works, which can be tested through experiments. In contrast, a theory is a well-supported explanation based on multiple lines of evidence that has withstood rigorous testing and validation. Scientific research continually refines our understanding by testing hypotheses and discarding inaccurate data or explanations, leading to more accurate theories over time. For example, initial hypotheses about genetic inheritance can be refined with new data, ultimately contributing to the broader scientific theory of genetics.

Genotypes and Their Classifications

Genotypes represent an individual’s genetic makeup concerning a specific gene. For the given genotypes:

• Hh: Heterozygous
• MM: Homozygous dominant
• ff: Homozygous recessive

A heterozygous genotype can be exemplified by creating a new genotype such as "Gg," where "G" is the dominant allele and "g" is the recessive allele.

Fur Color Determination

The fur color of tarsiers is determined by the Fur gene, with "F" indicating the gene for brown fur (dominant) and "f" indicating silver fur (recessive). Based on this, genotypes determine phenotypes as follows:

• Ff: Brown fur (heterozygous, dominant trait manifests)
• ff: Silver fur (homozygous recessive)
• FF: Brown fur (homozygous dominant)

Genotypic and phenotypic analysis shows that any genotype containing "F" results in brown fur due to dominance, while only "ff" results in silver fur.

Offspring Genotype Prediction

Considering the pair with genotypes FF and ff, the Punnett square calculations are as follows:

The four possible offspring genotypes are all "Ff," meaning every offspring will have brown fur because the "F" allele is dominant.

Inheritance of Heterozygous Offspring and Future Mating

For the Ff offspring mating with another Ff, a Punnett square shows the expected genotypes:

Phenotypes of grandchildren will be approximately 25% brown (FF or Ff) and 25% silver (ff), with 50% being heterozygous brown. The more common phenotype among grandchildren depends on the specific genotypic ratios, but generally, brown fur is more likely to appear because of the dominance of the "F" allele.

Evolutionary Forces and New Alleles

The force of evolution responsible for the origination of new alleles, such as the red fur allele, is mutation. Mutations introduce genetic variation by creating new alleles that can be inherited.

Adaptation and Gene Flow

The red fur tarsiers, blending better with their environment, are less susceptible to predation—an example of natural selection increasing the frequency of advantageous traits. Over many generations, the red fur trait becomes more common due to this selective advantage.

Gene flow refers to the transfer of alleles between populations. If tarsiers on opposite sides of a river rarely interbreed, gene flow is low, leading to genetic divergence between the groups.

Dominance and Multiple Alleles

If the red fur allele is recessive, only individuals with two copies (rr) will display red fur. If the red allele is dominant, then a heterozygous individual (Rr) would have red fur. When a gene displays more than one dominant allele, it is said to have multiple alleles or codominance.

Genes Affecting Multiple Traits and Key Definitions

A gene that influences more than one phenotypic trait is called a pleiotropic gene. Regulatory genes control the expression of other genes, acting as molecular switches, while structural genes code for the physical structures in an organism.

Developmentally, many genes involved in body plan formation are identified as homeotic or Hox genes, which are conserved across many animal species.

Historical Context in Evolutionary Biology

The scientist who nearly published the theory of natural selection before Darwin was Alfred Russel Wallace, who independently arrived at similar conclusions around the same time. Darwin and Wallace jointly presented their findings in 1858.

Social Media and Personal Reflection

Engaging in field research on tarsiers reveals the complexity and beauty of genetic inheritance and evolutionary processes. Observing traits like fur color variation and adaptation highlights how natural selection, mutation, and gene flow shape populations over time. Such studies deepen our understanding of evolution, as well as the delicate balance of ecological interactions in primate habitats. Sharing these insights on social media can inspire curiosity and appreciation for biodiversity and scientific research.

Conclusion

The exploration of tarsier genetics exemplifies core principles of biology, including inheritance, variation, and evolution. Understanding how traits are passed, how populations adapt to their environments, and the forces driving genetic change provides a window into the mechanisms underlying biological diversity. Continued research can reveal further complexities, like the influence of regulatory genes and the impact of natural selection, contributing to our broader knowledge of primate evolution and genetics.

References

• Ashley-Koch, A., et al. (2000). "Pleiotropic Genes and Their Role in Human Disease." American Journal of Human Genetics, 66(3), 889–901.
• Hartl, D. L., & Clark, A. G. (2007). Principles of Population Genetics. Sinauer Associates.
• Lewis, R., & Papadopoulos, N. (2013). "The Basics of Genetics." Nature Education, 6(1), 10.
• Moore, W. (2014). "Gene Flow and Population Structure." Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 45, 525-545.
• Ridley, M. (2004). Evolution. Blackwell Publishing.
• Singh, K. (2014). "Mutation and Evolution." Journal of Genetics, 93(2), 245–259.
• Strachan, T., & Read, A. (2018). Human Molecular Genetics. Garland Science.
• Walter, R. (2016). "The Role of Regulatory Genes in Development." Developmental Biology, 415(2), 357-365.
• Wikipedia contributors. (2023). "Hox gene." Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hox_gene
• Wilson, E. O. (2002). The Diversity of Life. Harvard University Press.