Survival of the Sickest and DNA/Genes

The main points of Chapter 6 were in regards to various gene mutations, more specifically, "jumping genes". The chapter begins by explaining the origins of genes and how they correlate with each other in regards to DNA. Darwin's theories were partially correct in the sense that mutations that were better suited to an environment were "naturally selected" and passed down to further generations. The researcher, Lamarck, related that this natural selection was shown in physical traits, or phenotype, that would be shown in the offspring. McClintock was the one that discovered the "jumping" gene in her experiments with corn.These jumping genes tend to occur when there is an environmental time of stress. This re-creates new sequences in the DNA which can cause mutations, and eventually better adaptations. Also, retroviruses are composed of RNA which can insert themselves into a DNA sequence. It described how enzymes are used to fight against the RNA from inserting themselves.