Evolution of Serum Proteins (B2-4)

Each protein carries in its amino acid sequence information pertaining to its evolutionary history and origin, and provides clues to the evolutionary history of the organism in which it is found. Indeed, proteins existing today are in effect living fossils. This concept is illustrated in this exercise where students examine the ability of antibodies against cow serum proteins to react with serum proteins from cow, sheep, goat, horse, donkey, and chicken. The results of this study show that sheep and goat are most closely related to cow which is in agreement with classical taxonomy.