If you saw the base sequence of part of a gene, could you identify if it came from a dog or from a flea? Briefly explain.

In theory, yes, it is possible to identify if a base sequence of a gene came from a dog or a flea. This is because every species has a unique genome, which is the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.

Here are the steps:

1. Obtain the base sequence: The first step is to have the base sequence of the gene in question. This can be obtained through various methods such as DNA sequencing.

2. Compare with known sequences: Once you have the base sequence, you would need to compare it with known sequences from a dog and a flea. These known sequences are usually stored in genetic databases, such as GenBank.

3. Identify the match: By comparing the base sequence with the known sequences, you can identify if the sequence is more similar to the dog's or the flea's. The one it is more similar to would be the likely source of the gene.

However, it's important to note that this process requires advanced knowledge and tools. Also, while this method can give you a likely source, it may not be 100% accurate due to factors such as mutations or similarities in some sequences between different species.