OT: Shared Genomes [was Re: AIS: REF: CULT: Dream Schemes]

Robert Pries asked if everyone knew that half the human genome was shared by
plants.

Bob, I sincerely doubt it.  But the word is spreading.....

I have run into an interesting observation in a hefty text, to wit----
Buchanan, Gruissem & Jones, eds, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of Plants,
published by the American Society of Plant Biologists.

Let me paraphrase what was said as a universal:  Natural processes are
conserved over broad ranges of kingdoms, phyla, genera and individuals.

How many ways can the Krebs cycle be constructed?  Probably just one.  The
cycle is found in almost anything alive.

How many ways can a Porphyrin (I'm probably misspelling all over the
place--please forgive me) be constructed?  Probably just one.

The Porphyrin core is the foundation upon which Heme (the root of Hemoglobin),
Chlorophyll, and countless Cytochromes are built.  The core ion or molecule is
a "box" of sorts which can capture and chelate all sorts of metal ions.  Heme
uses one of the forms in which Iron occurs, while Chlorophyl uses Magnesium,
as I recall, and Cytochromes can use such things as Copper.  The molecule that
is the foundation of Hemoglobin is the same between us and every other living
thing that has red blood.

Between us and one of the types of gorillas, about 98% of the DNA sequences
determining which proteins and sugars get hung from the Porphyrin core are the
same as ours.  We even share blood types.  Mice hemoglobin isn't much more
different.

Natural processes are conserved.

If something works well in a blue-green algae, it works equally well in us.

Oddly--those overlaps in genome to which Dr. Pries refers--don't always have
the same function.  What a grand design the inner world of genetic chemistry
is turning out to be!  There are all sorts of surprises.

It has been suggested that the enzyme (and the genetic code sequence
responsible for its synthesis) that is responsible for hanging or detaching
the 3' and 5' hydroxyls on the flavylium molecule that separates Dephinidin
(mauve-blue) from Pelargonidin (scarlet to blood red) which lack them is out
there in bearded irises floating around as a recessive.

It is known to be present in Japanese irises, and quite probably is in the
beardeds as well.  The identification and inbreeding necessary to bring this
recessive into view, however, depends either on genome analysis, or on just
plain probability factors, otherwise known as "luck."

Neil Mogensen  z 7 western NC mountains

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