A Consequence of Organelle Heredity Is That Sequence Changes in MtDNA

question 33

Multiple Choice

A consequence of organelle heredity is that sequence changes in mtDNA vary more than nuclear DNA in response to reduction in population size. Which of the following does this imply about human evolutionary history?

• A)Current human populations must have a much higher mutation rate than ancient populations.
• B)Mitochondrial variants in people descending from originally small populations show enough diversity to be used to construct an evolutionary tree.
• C)The original human population must have grown to be quite large before its members began migrating to other lands and other continents.
• D)Nuclear gene sequencing must be used to resolve the question of human ancestral origins.
• E)A single human population, living about 200,000 years ago, could not have given rise to all current human populations.

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Definitions:

Chemical Signals

Molecules released by cells that are used to communicate with other cells, often playing a role in the regulation of physiological processes.

Fear Center

A colloquial term often used to refer to the amygdala, a part of the brain involved in processing emotions, including fear.

Amygdala

A section of the brain that is responsible for detecting fear and preparing for emergency events.

Hypothalamus

A region of the brain below the thalamus that coordinates both the autonomic nervous system and the activity of the pituitary, controlling body temperature, thirst, hunger, and other homeostatic systems.