Excellent.
The scientists who uncovered the human "bottleneck" similar to the tortoise one have been given a lot of grief about it.
Beheregaray used mitochondrial DNA to trace the diversity of the Galapagos tortoises...the same method U of IL researchers used to trace our own
genetic diversity.
The article gives a nice, concise definition of mitochondrial DNA. mtDNA differs from the DNA most people are aware of, in that it is not a product
of a combination of both parents' genes. mtDNA is passed only by a mother to her children, and it changes very little. In fact, the only changes to
it are mutations, and those mutations occur on a measurable timeframe.
By examining the mtDNA in a species, it is possible to not only determine how much true genetic diversity exists, but also (by examining the
mutations), find a timeframe for a major population change such as these bottlenecks.
www.mitotyping.com...
...molecular anthropologists have been using mtDNA for almost a decade to examine both the extent of genetic variation in humans and the
relatedness of populations all over the world. Because of its unique mode of maternal inheritance it can reveal ancient population histories, which
might include migration patterns, expansion dates, and geographic homelands.
I'm glad to see this discovery, as both human and tortoise studies lend credence to each other.
How the hell did I just write all that while running a fever??
-B.
