How does the phenomenon of horizontal gene transfer muddle the concept of monophyletic groups?

A. Monophyletic groups are based on the concept that members of a particular group of species are related to one another at a particular taxonomic rank. However, a species that undergoes horizontal gene transfer no longer belongs to that taxon and the group becomes paraphyletic.
B. Monophyletic groups are based on the concept that members of a particular group of species are related to one another at a particular taxonomic rank. An unrelated species that undergoes horizontal gene transfer can become more closely related to members of a different group, making that group polyphyletic.
C. Monophyletic groups are based on the concept that a particular group of species descended from a common ancestor. When horizontal gene transfer occurs, not all of the genes in a species were inherited from the common ancestor.
D. Monophyletic groups are based on the concept that a particular group of species descended from a common ancestor. When horizontal gene transfer occurs in the common ancestor, any species to which it gives rise can no longer be considered descendent species.


Answer: C

Biology & Microbiology

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