Turtle Cells and Human Skin
New research has demonstrated that turtles and humans may have had a common ancestor 310 million years ago. A recent study looked at the genes responsible for the skin layers of turtle shells compared to the genes for human skin. The findings of the study suggest that about 250 million years ago, when turtle evolution split from other reptiles, a mutation in a specific group of genes occurred. The basic organization of this group of genes is similar in turtles and humans, and they produce the important skin proteins that produce shells in turtles and protect against infection in the skin of humans.
1. Identify the molecule that contains the hereditary material and the organelle in which it is found in turtle cells.
2. Explain how hidden genes work for the heredity of eye color. Give an example drawing a hypothetical family tree
