Question

2) Lions and tigers have diverged from a common ancestor approximately 4 million years ago. You are trying to determine whether the lion lineage or the tiger lineage has been evolving at a faster rate at the DNA sequence level since they diverged from their common ancestor. Describe the data you would need to collect to make that determination (2) and how you would interpret the data (1). Suppose that you find that the tiger lineage did, in fact, evolve faster according to the data you described. Propose two evolutionary explanations for that observation (1) and explain how they would impact the rate of evolution (1). Assume that no ancient DNA data exist for either lineage

Answer 1

Answer:

The source if data will be from the ancient DNA of the ancestors and the full DNA data of both the tiger and the lion.

Data interpretation

Its by analysing and comparing individually the specific marker of the ancient DNA with the DNA data of both tiger and lion.

If the tiger lineage did evolved faster then there will be CHANGES when the full DNA data of the tiger is analysed for similarities with ancient DNA data INDICATING a faster rate of evolution for the tiger lineage.

Note: these changes maybe due to the living ENVIRONMENTAL conditions and abundance of food and resources

Assuming no ancient DNA data exist for either lineage

Then analysis for comparison won't be easy but difficult to get by.

As today's data would have to be kept for future analysis and comparision in order for it to act as the basis for ancient data