What are molecular clocks? How they can be used to estimate the time of evolutionary divergences?

What will be an ideal response?


ANSWER: Because mutations that arise in noncoding regions of DNA do not affect protein structure,
they are not often eliminated by natural selection. If mutations accumulate in these
segments at a reasonably constant rate, differences in their DNA sequences can serve as a
molecular clock, indexing the time since two species diverged. Large differences imply
divergence in the distant past, whereas small differences suggest a more recent common
ancestor.

Biology & Microbiology

You might also like to view...

This type of tissue consists of fibroblasts, has

cells surrounded by a calcium matrix, and works with other tissues to move the body. This tissue type is

a. bone. b. cartilage. c. tendon. d. cardiac. e. loose connective

Biology & Microbiology

Renewable energy sources ____

a. have no disadvantages b. include coal-fired power plants c. have by-products that increase acid rain d. do not produce clean energy e. do not produce greenhouse gases

Biology & Microbiology

What physiological processes occur in response to an increase in blood pressure? What will be an ideal response?

Biology & Microbiology

What is the source of energy for plant roots?

What will be an ideal response?

Biology & Microbiology