The most recent identified ancestor of eukaryotes is a group of Archaea called the lokiarchaeotes.The evidence of this phylogenetic relationship is based on the presence of certain genes in the lokiarchaeote genome.These genes
A) confer a fitness advantage to archaea and are likely a result of horizontal gene transfer.
B) are unique to prokaryotic archaea.
C) are conserved in the two major divisions of life.
D) are involved in fundamental biological processes that take place in eukaryotes.
E) are more closely related to genes found in bacteria than to those found in eukaryotes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of certain genes in the lokiarchaeote genome that are involved in fundamental biological processes that take place in eukaryotes provides evidence of a phylogenetic relationship between archaea and eukaryotes. These genes are not unique to prokaryotic archaea or bacteria and are conserved in the two major divisions of life. They do not confer a fitness advantage to archaea and are unlikely a result of horizontal gene transfer.

The Most Recent Identified Ancestor of Eukaryotes Is a Group