"Rare events" can help us understand evolutionary events, as shown in the figure. Which of the following statements explains the logic of this approach?
A) Organisms with the mutation evolved convergently.
B) The mutation provided an adaptive advantage to the organisms that contained it.
C) Because the mutation likely occurred only once, all organisms with the mutation have a common ancestor with the mutation.
D) "Reverse evolution" does not occur.

Question

"Rare events" can help us understand evolutionary events, as shown in the figure. Which of the following statements explains the logic of this approach?
A) Organisms with the mutation evolved convergently. 
B) The mutation provided an adaptive advantage to the organisms that contained it. 
C) Because the mutation likely occurred only once, all organisms with the mutation have a common ancestor with the mutation. 
D) "Reverse evolution" does not occur.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rare events such as mutations are informative for understanding evolutionary events because they are unlikely to occur multiple times and thus allow for the inference of a common ancestor with the mutation.

"Rare Events" Can Help Us Understand Evolutionary Events, as Shown