Bob Masziaz wrote:
>Is the 2-3 % that separates us from chimps mostly in the
>supposedly "junk"
>DNA, and if so, does that affect the speed at which such changes
>can accumulate ?
The 2-5% sequence distance between chimps and humans is a
genomic as well as genetic characteristic. Since the entire
genome has not been sequenced, other techniques (like
melting-point studies) have revealed an estimated 95-98%
sequence identity for the whole genome. Individual genes from
chimps and humans also demonstrate this same range of sequence
identity. So the sequence identity _seems_ to be randomly
encountered across the entire genome, not localized to "junk
DNA."
Todd Wood
tcw3r@virginia.edu