Why Might a Phylogeny Based Only on Molecular Data Show

question 127

Multiple Choice

Why might a phylogeny based only on molecular data show a different pattern of relationships than a phylogeny of the same taxa that is based only on morphological traits?

• A)Gene sequences always provide more data than morphological traits.
• B)Morphological analyses always provide more data because each morphological trait is the result of the expression of many genes.
• C)The molecular data may be based on the analysis of introns, which aren't expressed and don't contribute to the evolutionary history of a group of taxa.
• D)Some highly conserved genetic sequences can result in unrelated species appearing closely related in a molecular phylogeny, and not reflect the same pattern as the morphologic phylogeny.
• E)Gene sequence changes may not result in morphological changes.

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