Sentences with phrase «common ancestor passed»

Not exact matches

Their analysis, published in January in the Journal of Human Genetics, suggests that the mutation was passed on from a common ancestor who lived about 14,000 years ago.

Before powerful computers were available, scientists constructed evolutionary trees by noting which species share different bumps and grooves, and assessing whether those features (also called characters) were inherited from a common ancestor, or passed along to descendants.

In fact, changes due to mutations in the mitochondrial DNA over time can be used to distinguish groups and also to estimate the amount of time that has passed since two individuals shared a common ancestor, as these mutations occur at predictable rates.

Similarly, Thewissen says, the common ancestor of whales and Indohyus may have been a herbivore (plant - eater) that took to water to hide out, but eventually switched to a swimming, meat - eating lifestyle, which it passed down to modern cetaceans.

Looking at each individual's genotype, at nearly 800 genetic markers spread across the entire genome, the team determined which markers seemed to be passed down together with the disease from a common ancestor.

Although the bacteria shared common features (most live inside animals and many cause disease), the pattern of species carrying and lacking the gene suggested that the gene had been shuffled horizontally in the family tree, between distantly related species, not passed down from an ancient ancestor.

Charles, in case you're interested, German and English have a common ancestor in the not too distant pass.