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Originally written by Cryptozoology:

Next time you see me acting like a dick, just assume I'm trying and failing to be funny and ignore me, mkay? It seems like I'm much better at making people hate me than I am at entertaining them. :(

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Unlike nuclear DNA in which the genes are rearranged by ~50% each generation (due to the process called recombination), there is usually no change in mtDNA from parent to offspring by this mechanism. Because of this and the fact that its mutation rate is higher than nuclear DNA and easily measured, mtDNA is a powerful tool for tracking matrilineage, and has been used in this role for tracking many species back hundreds of generations.

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The human genetic code, or genome, is 99.9 percent identical throughout the world. What's left is the DNA responsible for our individual differences—in eye color or disease risk, for example—as well as some that serves no apparent function at all. Once in an evolutionary blue moon, a random, harmless mutation can occur in one of these functionless stretches, which is then passed down to all of that person's descendants. Generations later, finding that same mutation, or marker, in two people's DNA indicates that they share the same ancestor. By comparing markers in many different populations, scientists can trace their ancestral connections.

In most of the genome, these minute changes are obscured by the genetic reshuffling that takes place each time a mother and father's DNA combine to make a child. Luckily a couple of regions preserve the telltale variations. One, called mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), is passed down intact from mother to child. Similarly, most of the Y chromosome, which determines maleness, travels intact from father to son.

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Originally written by Serial 11532A-96M56E:

They are made of an alloy of 70% truth and 50% belief.

—Alorael, who believes the ratio was carefully tested. Less than 20% extra belief and there's not enough belief in there to maintain the impossible ratio stably.

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Originally written by Bismark*:

just to exercise my powerful tools...

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Originally written by Garrison:

I do not think that the pharmaceutical industry intends to make their money by intentionally keeping people sick...

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Talking about the rules reminds me of this drawing...

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Dikipedia

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