Thread: Genetic Timer

I've heard that anthropologists are in disagreement about the origin of Homo Sapiens. Some believe that Sapiens evolved from Homo Erectus in Africa, before exploring the world. There are those that believe all Homo Erectus evolved into homo sapiens around the same time, well after Erectus left Africa.

If I could just concentrate on the latter scenario. Suppose at some given interval of time homo erectus did evolve into modern man no matter where they were on the planet. Could it be possible that the human genome or that of any creature contains a gene that at a certain time triggers a major mutation? A built-in time delayed gene so to speak. Like onco genes that need something to trigger them.

Originally Posted by zinjanthropos

I've heard that anthropologists are in disagreement about the origin of homo sapiens. Some believe that sapiens evolved in Africa before exploring the world. There were those that believed all homo erectus evolved into homo sapiens around the same time well after erectus left Africa.

If I could just concentrate on the latter scenario. Suppose at some given interval of time homo erectus did evolve into modern man no matter where they were on the planet. Could it be possible that the human genome or that of any creature contains a gene that at a certain time triggers a major mutation? A built-in time delayed gene so to speak. Like onco genes that need something to trigger them.

or maybe, like all evolution, we just adapted to the enviorment?

I was just wondering about evolutionary mutation occuring in a lot less time than we currently think. Certainly some environmental factor would act as the catalyst to trigger the mutation, instant adaptation(geologically speaking) when absolutely required.

like you think god knew we would turn lazy, have computers, and talk on science forums? maybe thats why the africans havent changed yet. we may be very different. I respect your theory, and it is very possible. maybe genes evolved overtime so they wouldnt take so long! sort of ironic.

Bacteria do have a response called the SOS response which is, for lack of a better term, sloppy copying of DNA. This can cause a higher mutation rate in a high-stress environment (say: an environment with a new antibiotic in it) and a higher frequency of mutations leading to an evolved trait (say: resistance to an anti-biotic).

wikipedia "SOS response" and you should get an entire article on it.

-Ajain