Neco Model Questions Vol1 2019 Biology Question 31

Practice objective / multiple choice question 31 from the 2019 Neco Model Questions Vol1 Biology examination.

Neco Model Questions Vol1 2019 Biology Objective / Multiple Choice Medium Difficulty
Question 31 NECO_MODEL_QUESTIONS_VOL1 • 2019 • BIOLOGY • objective

A gene of 1500 base pairs shows 45 nucleotide differences between species A and B. The mutation rate for this gene is estimated at \(2\times10^{-9}\) mutations per site per generation. Assuming the differences are due to neutral mutations accumulated independently in each lineage after divergence, estimate the minimum time (in million years) since the two species diverged. Use a generation time of 5 years. Given that the earliest known fossils of species A are 5 million years old and those of species B are 3 million years old, which statement is best supported by your calculation?

Answer Options

A. Approximately 45 million years; this predates the earliest fossils, but the excess time is unlikely given the mutation rate.
B. Approximately 12 million years; this aligns with the earliest fossils, implying the divergence coincides with the fossil evidence.
Correct Answer C. Approximately 38 million years; this predates the earliest fossils, so the lineages must have diverged long before the fossil record.
D. Approximately 20 million years; this is after the earliest fossils, suggesting the divergence occurred more recently than the fossil record indicates.
Correct Answer
C
Correct Option:
Approximately 38 million years; this predates the earliest fossils, so the lineages must have diverged long before the fossil record.

About This Question

This is Neco Model Questions Vol1 2019 Biology Question 31. It is one of the objective questions from the 2019 Neco Model Questions Vol1 Biology examination.

Difficulty level: Medium .

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