Humans and Gorillas are very similar in terms of their genetic sequences; in a sample of each of their DNA sequences, only ONE difference was found. MY QUESTION: What genetic mechanism could cause this base sequence change? Thanks!
See the site in my response to a similar question posted just above this. The evolutionary mechanism is cited as the reason.
The genetic mechanism that could cause a base sequence change between humans and gorillas is called a point mutation. Point mutations occur when there is a change in a single DNA base pair. There are several types of point mutations, including substitutions, insertions, and deletions.
In this case, since only one difference was found between the DNA sequences of humans and gorillas, it is likely a substitution mutation. A substitution mutation occurs when one base pair is replaced by another. For example, a cytosine (C) in the human DNA sequence may be replaced by a thymine (T) in the gorilla DNA sequence.
Point mutations can happen spontaneously or as a result of exposure to environmental factors like radiation or chemicals. They can occur during DNA replication, genetic recombination, or repair processes.
To determine the specific genetic mechanism responsible for the base sequence change between humans and gorillas, scientists compare their DNA sequences and identify the specific base pair difference. This can be done through a process called DNA sequencing, which involves determining the exact order of nucleotides in a DNA molecule.
Once the base sequence difference is identified, further analysis can be done to understand the impact of this mutation on the genetic code, gene expression, and potentially the phenotypic differences between humans and gorillas.