1) What are the possible combinations ?
And
2) If our human population exceed this amount would it be possible to have identical humans who are not related ?
2007-07-14 12:26:11 · 5 answers · asked by DeclanTynan 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
To solve the first question, you do on a calculator, 30,000!(the ! is a tool that you will find on any standard scientific calculator)
I have tried to do this calculation, but the result was so astronomical, that an error message came up! Maybe you will have better luck than me.
First of all, the earth only has a feeding capacaty to supply about 8 billion people. This enourmous amount could never exist. Secondly, even now, it is technically possible for two unrelated people to have identical genetic makeup. However, the chance of this happening is so outrageously huge, that it is labeled as "impossible". That is why DNA is such a powerfull tool in fighting crime(each person has his own DNA).
2007-07-14 12:56:03 · answer #1 · answered by ny_spinner_dan 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
ny_spinner_dan: I don't know were you get the 8 billion limit for human population. I am willing to bet whoever came up with that number would have agreed with those that claimed 30 years ago that the limit was less than the current world population. However, the possible number of genetic combinations is more than the number of people that could physically stand on the planet at one time.
The answer to your second question is: "It is POSSIBLE to have genetically identical non-relatives now." It is extremely unlikely, but theoretically possible.
In order to answer your first question, you need to know the number of forms for each gene. The method ny_spinner_dan used would not be correct even if you had that information. If each gene comes in 2 forms, the answer would be 2^30,000. That is 2 x 2 x 2 ... until there were 30,000 2s. I believe the number would have more than 10,000 digits.
2007-07-14 21:14:55 · answer #2 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Each of those 30,000 genes are identical in themselves. They describe a specific feature, such as hair colour, eye colour.
I presume point 2 refers to cloning? You wouldn't need any more genes than we already have. Identical twins are genetically identical, of course, but they are related.
2007-07-15 07:33:10 · answer #3 · answered by Superdude 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
know where youre going but no two things in existance are exaclty the same
2007-07-14 19:30:20 · answer #4 · answered by capa-de-monty 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What he said !
2007-07-14 19:29:33 · answer #5 · answered by Pooh Face 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋