Question

A molecule that can be used as a molecular clock has a neutral mutation rate of one mutation per 10 million years. How many years ago did two species share a common ancestor if the molecules found in these two species differ by a total of six mutations?
6 million years
30 million years
10 million years
60 million years

Answer 1

Out of the choices given here, it was 30 million years ago the two species differed by a total of six mutations. 

Answer 2

Based on the mutation rate of the molecular clock, the two species shared a common ancestor 60 million years ago.

What is a mutation?

A mutation refers to changes that occur in the sequence of nucleotides in a DNA molecule.

The mutation of the molecular clock occurs once per 10 million years.

If six mutations occur in the molecular clock, it means that 10 million years × 6 have passed.

Number of years = 60 million years.

Therefore, the two species shared a common ancestor 60 million years ago.

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