DNA Mutation and Evolution Are Not As Random As We Thought

Hello and welcome! My name is Anton and in this video, we will talk about groundbreaking research that suggests mutation and evolution are not as random as we thought
Links:

Support this channel on Patreon to help me make this a full time job:

Bitcoin/Ethereum to spare? Donate them here to help this channel grow!
bc1qnkl3nk0zt7w0xzrgur9pnkcduj7a3xxllcn7d4
or ETH: 0x60f088B10b03115405d313f964BeA93eF0Bd3DbF

Enjoy and please subscribe.

The hardware used to record these videos:
Some of the above are affiliate links, meaning I would get a (very small) percentage of the price paid.

Thank you to all Patreon supporters of this channel
Special thanks also goes to all the wonderful supporters of the channel through YouTube Memberships:
Tybie Fitzhugh
Viktor Óriás
Les Heifner
theGrga
Steven Cincotta
Mitchell McCowan
Partially Engineered Humanoid
Alexander Falk
Drew Hart
Arie Verhoeff
Aaron Smyth
Mike Davis
Greg Testroet
John Taylor
EXcitedJoyousWorldly !
Christopher Ellard
Gregory Shore
maggie obrien
Matt Showalter
Tamara Franz
R Schaefer
diffuselogic
Grundle Muffins

Images/Videos:

Licenses used:

[dogekingextraordinaire]

Was on the toilet taking my Anton break. The dude inthe next stall was taking a Anton break too...we're wonderful people

[TimesArkan]

Anton is the one reason why I'm interested in science and space so much, he's the most wonderful person out there!
More people should start sharing his content so he can reach 1 million subs!

[itheuserfirst]

This makes sense. It's been assumed for quite some time that there is a real time environmental influence on DNA. It's a complex dance between natural selection, random mutations, and environmental pressures. This gives evolution the most elasticity.

[ROLtheWolf]

I think of the inspection of planes in WW2 when they returned. Using the inspections they determined where they should increase the armor, and where less armor might work, because of the consistent bullet patterns they found on returning planes. Wherever there was a hole, it was likely less necessary to armor. It wasn't vital, because "Look, it survived well with this hole here." The planes that didn't return had holes where armor was needed most.

Likewise, where the DNA can stand mutation least and still be surviving is what you see in that report. Vital stuff that mutates results in critical systems failure, and death.

[michaelmcgowan]

I think that the news headline that has appeared so often about this study that "mutations are not random" is misleading. At least from what I understand, many organisms have developed the ability to protect certain vital parts of their genome from random mutations -- a mechanism similar to the manner in which computers used in critical applications have for many years used error-correcting memories to avoid data corruption. Other less critical parts of the genome, though, (like the DRAM in consumer laptops) are still exposed to random changes or mutations. These replication errors when they occur are still random and not self-correcting, although the type and frequency of mutation is certainly influenced by changes in the environment (e.g., exposure to UV light from the sun, temperature extremes, chemical exposure, etc.).

[colleenforrest]

One of the things I was pondering back in college, as a budding computer scientist was if you could weight a small program using recursion that would over time build out a larger structure.

I also noticed in a genetics class that DNA was a sort of double binary system that had stop bits and tons of recursion :)

[DiamondCutter]

Great post.
When you were talking about the plants mutating it seemed to suggest that the plant has a spirit or self-aware consciousness about it.
Plants are master engineers and one rule of engineering is: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"....and plants abide by this rule of thumb.
Awareness of what works.

[ultramovier]

This might give us a good starting point to understand how mutations could be so rapid at some times especially after great disasters.

[fabiant.]

In hind sight it makes quite sense that this kind of Meta-Evolution would emerge over long periods of time.
After all DNA and their proteins are not insubstantial holders of information, but rather physical parts of every organism and subject to being changed.
The ability to more or less easily evolve/mutate certain parts of a genome can thus be thought of as trait just like hair color or beak shape.
This obviously adds a whole new level to the already staggering complexity of evolution... but that's just life i guess.

[dmell]

It makes sense not being random, since you can see evolution as sort of an optimization function. So with time will trend towards evolutionary traits that allow to prolong the persistence of these traits.

[zernix]

It seems like if there's a mutation in a crucial system, it often leads to death. This also happens with human embryos, to the tune of some 78% of fertilized embryos self terminating due to genetic failure. The result is, only less crucial systems see evolution through the ages.

[samsonsoturian]

The thing about lung mutation is that human lung size varies between ethnicities that live on different elevations. Of course there's more variability allowed.

[jimmyjimjimmyjimjimjimjim]

Just a point of clarification: Gene mutation actually occurs very rarely, about 10^-6 in humans. By itself gene mutation has very little effect on evolutionary change. But combined with other evolutionary pressures such as genetic drift, natural selection, gene flow, mating, etc. it does have an effect. The finch beak example is actually an example of epigenetic changes or genetic flow more than genetic mutation.
However, the bias in genetic mutations is still extremely interesting. Love your videos.

[csleuthone]

Always get a like Anton. Congratulations on nearing a million subscribers. It's an easy solution as your podcast is a great show. Thanks!

[charlesjmouse]

Interesting.
These observations make sense and would seem to be straightforward enough to explain in terms of protection and repair mechanisms being differentially targeted. More, as we know our epigenetics are directly effected by environment and are passed on in their effected form it's reasonable to assume that might in turn explain how an environmental pressure might specifically target the mutation rate in relevant parts of the genome.

[Veptis]

I heard a talk at the biology department in 2018 focussed on epigenetics. And they predicted that within the next 10 years - a lot of darwinist evolution results will be challenged and disproven. Causing a reference cascade and changing the whole concept of evolutionary pressure and adaptation.

[Bunderwahl]

Back when I was young, sickle cell was categorized as a genetic disease. This was before the benefit (protection against malaria) was known. It affected mostly those of African descent in cold climates such as New York or Chicago because as the temperature starts to drop the capillaries contract to preserve the core temperature protecting the organs. The shape of the blood cells with people having this trait causes them to become stuck in the narrow passages causing pain, mostly in the extremities. The only reason it is a problem at all is people with this trait were now in an area much different from the environment it developed in. In a tropical or subtropical region that person gets all of the benefit with none of the liability of that mutation. The interesting part is that our technology seems to have advanced further than evolution's ability to adapt with planes, ships, and controlled environments.

[penguinista]

There are a variety of factors that could cause part of the genome to be more likely to be mutated than other parts. Germline DNA is stored in some physical configuration that leaves parts of the chain more susceptible to radiation damage, for instance.

[johnpayne]

Again, I enjoyed your review, Anton.
Some additional background seems appropriate …
There are a number of genes that have been highly conserved over millions of years and across a vast number species. Example: Fen1 in C. elegans (a primordial worm) used for sex reconfiguration that is 90% identical to human (used in insulin function). Just how such genes can remain unchanged is a fascinating question.
Epigenetics, the modification of the genome of offspring by life experiences (like physiological stress) of parents is also well established.
We have also known about “hot spots” in genomes where alterations of DNA sequences occur faster than most other sites.
What’s cool about this work is another level of adaptation, one of active anticipation.
Non-random, “planned” mutations opens a new door to understanding the timeline of evolution.

[Thestuffonmainstreet]

I love the expansion of topics. You are an invaluable source of cutting edge science to the common public. Don’t stop!