Gce Model Questions Vol1 2022 Biology Question 5

Practice objective / multiple choice question 5 from the 2022 Gce Model Questions Vol1 Biology examination.

Gce Model Questions Vol1 2022 Biology Objective / Multiple Choice Medium Difficulty
Question 5 GCE_MODEL_QUESTIONS_VOL1 • 2022 • BIOLOGY • objective

Two closely related species show a genetic divergence of 0.018 substitutions per site in a particular nuclear gene. The mutation rate for this gene is estimated at \(1.5 \times 10^{-8}\) substitutions per site per year. Assuming a molecular clock and that substitutions accumulate independently in each lineage, estimate the time since the two species diverged (in years). Two competing hypotheses propose that the divergence occurred either (A) 1 million years ago or (B) 2 million years ago. Which hypothesis is better supported by the molecular data? Show your calculations.

Answer Options

A. hypothesis A (≈1 million years) is better supported; estimated divergence ≈3×10⁵ years
Correct Answer B. hypothesis A (≈1 million years) is better supported; estimated divergence ≈6×10⁵ years
C. hypothesis B (≈2 million years) is better supported; estimated divergence ≈9×10⁵ years
D. hypothesis B (≈2 million years) is better supported; estimated divergence ≈1.2×10⁶ years
Correct Answer
B
Correct Option:
hypothesis A (≈1 million years) is better supported; estimated divergence ≈6×10⁵ years

About This Question

This is Gce Model Questions Vol1 2022 Biology Question 5. It is one of the objective questions from the 2022 Gce Model Questions Vol1 Biology examination.

Difficulty level: Medium .

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