As the prelude speaker to our Darwin Day celebration in February, Dr. Wayne Davis, PhD, presented formidable and knowledgeable information about his work as a research in the Department of Biology at the University of Utah.

This year is 200th birthday of Charles Darwin who, on a voyage of nearly five years on ship HMS Beagle, put together natural history collections and gathered data about previously unknown species of plants and animals. From this journey he kept careful notes of his observations and theoretical speculations.

Studying and analyzing the data from these field notes, Darwin was able to qualitatively support his theory of evolution. Ultimately his book The Origin of Species was the synthesis of this information in which he made his earth-changing arguments. Of import also is that subsequent research by generations of life scientists has quantified in striking detail the facts that Darwin qualitatively observed. Part of the later quantitative research that confirms Darwin's qualitative observations lies in the study of the nature and history of plant and animal DNA.

DNA is unique information material, explained Davis, that is contained in every cell of every organism; DNA directs when, how much, and what proteins are produced to develop and maintain a particular life form.

As Davis articulated through colorful graphics geared for a lay audience, DNA is what is known as a "double helix" of extremely small building blocks which, if uncoiled and straightened, would be about 2 meters (about six and a half feet) in length: this double helix is contained in each and every cell!

A section of the DNA strand, which collectively produces a specific protein, is called a gene. Through more graphics, Davis showed how genes in some well-known species help to illustrate evolution at work.

Beginning with a yeast organism that has 12 million base pairs and 6,300 genes, Davis next displayed a C. elegans worm, the creature Davis observes for his research, which has 97 million base pairs (In molecular biology, a base pair is two nucleotides on opposite complementary DNA strands that are connected through hydrogen bonds. The size of an individual gene or an organism's entire genome is often measured in base pairs because DNA is usually double-stranded. -Wikipedia) and 19,100 genes.

A fruit fly has 180 million base pairs and 13,600 genes, while a plant has 125 million base pairs and 25,500 genes. A white rat has 2,500 million base pairs and 30,000 genes, and we, Homo sapiens, have 3 billion base pairs and 30,000 genes.

Some sequences have lasted a long time, and chromosomes show a common origin. Over time, genes can be in any order on a chromosome with no functional consequences, while they also rearrange in predictable ways. Evolutionary history can be seen in the order of genes in chromosomes

Through more graphics, Davis explained how modern lab techniques have been developed in which the building blocks of genes can actually be colorized or "painted" to allow visual inspection of genes from the simplest to the most complex plants and animals. This discovery tremendously aided the progress of gene research.

For instance, made possible because of this colorization, a careful study of plant and animal genes indicates clearly that all life forms contain much of the same information.

Evolution is due to random mutations, and the distinct changes made in a species' DNA as a result of these mutations, can be traced backwards in history. Davis illustrated this phenomenon by showing examples of changes within humans like skin pigmentation, eye color, lactose tolerance, and cholesterol levels. According to Davis, we are all mutants; each person has approximately 100 mutations.

To add a little levity to a complex and technical subject, Davis concluded with two quotes:

You have evolved from worm to man, but much within you is still worm.

--Friedrich Nietzsche

The Thing: Didn't they come up with a cure for your kind?
Wolverine: You got a problem with mutants?
The Thing: I meant Canadians.

--X-Men:Reloaded, Issue 7

In succinct summation, Davis ended by stating that genome technology shows us the deep similarities of life, while showing the unique nature of every being.

--Sarah Smith