5
QuizMultiple Choice

Evolutionary Relationships — Quiz

Question 5 • Biology

A scientist discovers a new organism that is related to clownfish. What can the scientist discover by using molecular clocks?

Answer
A
the number of years that fish have existed
B
the date that the organism first appeared in the fossil record
C
the age of the organism
D
the amount of time that the two species have been evolving apart

Explanation

Molecular clocks use the number of genetic differences between related species to estimate how long ago their lineages split. So the scientist can estimate the amount of time the new organism and clownfish have been evolving apart. They do not directly reveal the organism’s age or when it first appeared in the fossil record.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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