Molecular Data Can Be Used to Assess Relationships Among the Major

question 18

Multiple Choice

Molecular data can be used to assess relationships among the major groups of living organisms whose common ancestors lived millions or billions of years ago. Similar techniques can be used to assess relationships among populations within a species. How can molecular techniques be useful for such varied comparisons?

• A)Studying the relationships among different populations of a single species can be just as effective as studying the relationships of major biological groups if you look at a lot more genes.
• B)The same data can be used for any comparison with equal efficiency.
• C)Faster-evolving gene sequences provide better data for comparisons among close relatives, whereas very slowly evolving sequences work best for distantly related taxa.
• D)The relationships between very different groups such as bacteria and whales are assessed using mtDNA sequences, whereas rRNA sequences are used for very closely related groups.

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Definitions:

TBW

Total body water; the total amount of water in the human body, expressed as a percentage of body weight.

Scapula

A large, flat triangular bone on the posterior side of the shoulder, also known as the shoulder blade.

Flexes

Refers to the action of bending a limb or joint.

Rotates

To move or turn around a central point or axis.