Question

A researcher attempts to use a segment of ribosomal RNA as a molecular clock to calculate the date of the last common ancestor of two species. He finds that the two species diverged from a common ancestor 150 million years ago. These particular species have abundant fossil records that strongly suggest that these species diverged 100 million years ago. Which of the following answer choices best describes a reason for the discrepancy in the date of the last common ancestor of these species?

A. Ribosomal RNA is not a reliable molecular clock and should not be used for dating.
B. The neutral mutation rate used in calculating the last common ancestor date may not have been accurate.
C. It is highly likely that the two organisms did not share a common ancestor, so the results are invalid.
D. A large portion of the ribosomal RNA is not vital to survival, so it is not likely to be well preserved.

Answer 1

Answer:

B

Explanation:

It is B because the mutation rate should not have been accurate if it showes that they diverged 150 million years ago. But the abundant fossil records show that it diverged 100 million years ago.

Hope this helps:)

Answer 2

Ribosomal RNA is not a reliable molecular clock and should not be used for dating.

What is molecular docking?

• In structural molecular biology and computer-assisted drug design, molecular docking is an important technique.

• The purpose of ligand-protein docking is to anticipate a ligand's most common binding mode with a protein having a known three-dimensional structure.

What is dating?

• Carbon dating is used to determine the age of ancient material such as an archaeological or paleontological specimen .

A molecular clock estimates how long it has been since similar species separated from a common ancestor based on DNA sequences (or the amino acid sequence of proteins encoded by DNA).

Hence, the correct option is A.

To know more about molecular dock here

https://brainly.com/question/1255417?

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