[Campbell Biology P.136] Based on the provided text regarding molecular evidence for evoluti... | Practice Question
Based on the provided text regarding molecular evidence for evolution, which of the following comparisons is most consistent with the principles of "molecular genealogy"?
A: Humans and mice share 95-98% identical genomes, indicating a close evolutionary relationship.
B: Humans and gorillas differ by 67 amino acids in the β polypeptide chain of hemoglobin, suggesting a distant relationship.
C: Humans and frogs are expected to have a higher proportion of shared DNA and protein sequences than humans and chimpanzees.
D: Humans and chimpanzees show 95-98% genomic identity, while humans and mice show approximately 85% identity, supporting their relative evolutionary distances.
Explanation
The text explicitly states that 'The human genome is 95-98% identical to that of the chimpanzee, but only roughly 85% identical to that of the mouse, a more distant evolutionary relative.' This aligns with the concept of molecular genealogy where closer relatives share more genetic similarity.