From Atoms to traits

1. Mendel's experiment is important because he was able to get some proof for Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection. Through his experiment with peas he was able to show us that variants in species are inheritable and that genetic variants reappear in future generations, not blend away.

2. James Watson and Francis Crick were the ones who discovered the double helix structure of DNA.

3. A variation in DNA is called a homopolymer, which are stretches of DNA with eight or more identical letters in a row are prone to copying errors during DNA replication and an example of this is microsatellites which consist of sequences of two or more nucleotides in a row. Another variation is called “jumping” elements, which change gene activity patterns by creating new regulatory sequences, and an example is the wrinkly seeds of peas.Another is when the bases change from A to G, and an example of this is in peas when the variation occurs it shortens growth. Another is the change in regulatory genes that regulate cell division, and an example is the differences between the maize plant and the tesinte plant. Finally, the last one is the variation is change in pigment cell, and an example is the change in human skin color.

4. Evo-devo is the study of the effects and changes in important gene developments and their role in evolution.

5. The ability to digest milk is only found in infants. Different lactose tolerant have different mutations in key regions. Because humans rely on milk, the mutation is still active.