Neco 2024 Biology Question 21

Practice objective / multiple choice question 21 from the 2024 Neco Biology examination.

Neco 2024 Biology Objective / Multiple Choice Medium Difficulty
Question 21 NECO • 2024 • BIOLOGY • objective

Species X and Y show a \(6\%\) difference in their mitochondrial DNA sequences. The molecular clock for this gene accumulates substitutions at a rate of \(1.2\%\) per million years per lineage. A third species Z differs from X by \(14\%\) and from Y by \(13\%\). Assuming a constant rate, (a) estimate the time (in million years) since X and Y diverged from their common ancestor. (b) Calculate the estimated divergence times for the pairs X-Z and Y-Z and state which pair diverged most recently.

Answer Options

A. X-Y: 5.0 Myr; X-Z: 5.8 Myr; Y-Z: 5.4 Myr; most recent pair: X-Z
B. X-Y: 2.5 Myr; X-Z: 7.0 Myr; Y-Z: 5.4 Myr; most recent pair: Y-Z
Correct Answer C. X-Y: 2.5 Myr; X-Z: 5.8 Myr; Y-Z: 5.4 Myr; most recent pair: X-Y
D. X-Y: 2.5 Myr; X-Z: 5.8 Myr; Y-Z: 4.0 Myr; most recent pair: Y-Z
Correct Answer
C
Correct Option:
X-Y: 2.5 Myr; X-Z: 5.8 Myr; Y-Z: 5.4 Myr; most recent pair: X-Y

About This Question

This is Neco 2024 Biology Question 21. It is one of the objective questions from the 2024 Neco Biology examination.

Difficulty level: Medium .

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