After Considerable Effort,you Are Able to Collect and Analyze DNA

question 2

Multiple Choice

After considerable effort,you are able to collect and analyze DNA from the winged animal.You obtain the nucleotide sequence of the cytochrome c oxidase gene.When you compare this sequence to the sequence of the same gene in a bat,a rodent,a shrew,and a human,you find the following numbers of differences: winged animal-bat 11 differences
Winged animal-rodent 14 differences
Winged animal-shrew 15 differences
Winged animal-human 9 differences
Which hypothesis does this data support?

• A)Of the mammals tested, the winged animal is probably most closely related to shrews.
• B)Of the mammals tested, the winged animal is probably most closely related to humans.
• C)Of the mammals tested, the winged animal is probably most closely related to rodents.
• D)The winged animal is probably most closely related to bats, because bats also have wings.

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Definitions:

Probability

A quantitative assessment of an event's probability, given as a number from 0 to 1.

Choosing

The act of selecting from a number of alternatives or possibilities.

Day

A unit of time equivalent to 24 hours, representing the period it takes for the Earth to complete one full rotation on its axis.

Week

A time unit consisting of seven days, commonly used as a standard period for work and rest cycles.