The Following Questions Refer to This Phylogenetic Tree, Depicting the Origins

question 32

Multiple Choice

The following questions refer to this phylogenetic tree, depicting the origins of life and of the three domains. Horizontal lines indicate instances of gene or genome transfer.

A possible phylogenetic tree for the three domains of life.
-If the early history of life on Earth is accurately depicted by the above figure, then which statement is least in agreement with the hypothesis proposed by this tree?

• A)The last universal common ancestor of all extant species is better described as a community of organisms, rather than an individual species.
• B)The origin of the three domains appears as a polytomy.
• C)Archaean genomes should contain genes that originated in bacteria, and vice versa.
• D)Eukaryotes are more closely related to archaeans than to bacteria.

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Definitions:

Deltas

Landforms created at river mouths where sediment is deposited in a fan shape as the river flows into a slower-moving or standing body of water like an ocean or lake.

Sediments

Particles of rock, soil, or organic material deposited by water, wind, or ice, often forming layers in riverbeds, lakes, and oceans.

Dam

A structure built across a river or stream to hold back water for purposes such as storage, flood defense, or electricity generation.

Sediment

Particles of rock, mineral, or organic materials that accumulate in layers on the Earth's surface, often transported by water, wind, or ice.