Which kind of DNA should provide the best molecular clock for determining the evolutionary relatedness of several species whose common ancestor became extinct billions of years ago?
A)DNA coding for ribosomal RNA
B)intronic DNA belonging to a gene whose product performs a crucial function
C)paralogous DNA that has lost its function (that is,no longer codes for functional gene product)
D)mitochondrial DNA
E)exonic DNA that codes for a noncrucial part of a polypeptide

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

DNA coding for ribosomal RNA is highly conserved across different species due to its essential role in protein synthesis. This conservation makes it an excellent molecular clock for studying evolutionary relationships over long periods.

Which Kind of DNA Should Provide the Best Molecular Clock