Question

Based on what you know about evolutionary mechanisms, which species of Emerald Finch most likely diverged from the ancestral state via genetic drift? Explain your answer. Cancer can loosely be defined as abnormal and uncontrolled growth of a tumor. Why does it make sense that Actinomycin D, which binds to transcription initiation complexes, is used as an anticancer drug?

Answer 1

(Q.1). Based on what you know about evolutionary mechanisms, which species of Emerald Finch most likely diverged from the ancestral state via genetic drift? Explain your answer.

Answer: Galapagos finches, ancestral colonizers from the South American mainland is most likely diverged from the ancestral state via genetic drift.
Genetic drift is changes in allele frequencies of a gene pool due to chance or random events. This can occur in large or small populations. A bottleneck effect (When the population increases to its original size, a portion of its original genetic diversity remains lost is called bottleneck effect.) of genetic drift in which a severe reduction in population size results from natural disaster, predation, or habitat reduction. This results in a severe reduction of the total genetic diversity of the original gene pool.

(Q.2). Why does it make sense that Actinomycin D, which binds to transcription initiation complexes, is used as an anticancer drug?

Answer: actinomycin D, cytotoxic antibiotic family of medicine, used in treatment of cancer (chemotherapeutic medicine). Dactinomycin is used to treat sarcomas, pediatric solid tumors (Wilms tumor), germ cell cancers (testicular cancer), and choriocarcinoma.

Actinomycin D (Act D) is a polypeptide antibiotic, isolated from the genus Streptomyces. Act D intercalates into DNA, preventing the progression of RNA polymerases. It is widely used as a transcription inhibitor. RNA polymerase I, catalyzing the ribosomal RNA transcription, is most sensitive to Act D.