Hypervariable genes
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
When we analyze the sequence of particular genes in a population, it is clear there are subtle differences for some. When an evolutionist finds that a gene has been changed, it is automatically assumed that mutation was involved. However, we have now recognized that some genes are hypervariable in comparison to others. Not all genes are variable. The sequence of housekeeping gene tend to remain constant, but interestingly, the genes involved with interspecies contact seem typically hypervariable.
Hypervariable genes change at a higher rate than the neutral regions between genes. These genes are also not randomly variable. Only a particular region of the gene changes. There is always a conserved and variable portion of the gene. It has also become clear that certain codons within the altered area remain unchanged, and nucleotide substitution show a clear preponderance for transversional changes (AT to TA) rather than transitional.
Although these new alleles were originally thought to be the result of mutation, it is now understood that genetic recombination is involved. A process known as gene conversion is now recognized as being responsible for the changes that our found in many genes, such as those used to make antibodies. The genes are not changing randomly due to errors. There is a cellular machinery that is intentionally changing their sequence to produce adaptive fitness.
Related References
- Hypervariable genes—experimental error or hidden dynamics by Igor Dozmorov, Nicholas Knowlton, Yuhong Tang, Alan Shields, Parima Pathipvanich, James N. Jarvis and Michael Centola for Nucleic Acids Research 2004 volume 32
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