Random mutations only very rarely result in changes in a protein that improve its usefulness for the cell, yet useful mutations are selected in evolution. Because these changes are so rare, for each useful mutation there are innumerable mutations that lead to either no improvement or inactive proteins. Why, then, do cells not contain millions of proteins that are of no use?

Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Course List)
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ISBN:9781305251052
Author:Michael Cummings
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Chapter15: Genomes And Genomics
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Problem 11QP: When the human genome sequence was finally completed, scientists were surprised to discover that the...
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Random mutations only very rarely result in changes in a protein that improve its usefulness for the cell, yet useful mutations are selected in evolution. Because these changes are so rare, for each useful mutation there are innumerable mutations that lead to either no improvement or inactive proteins. Why, then, do cells not contain millions of proteins that are of no use?

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