Final answer:
Two species with a common ancestor from about 1 million years ago are considered very distant relatives, as they have accumulated significant genetic differences over time. Phylogenetic trees aid in visualizing these evolutionary relationships.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two species that share a common ancestor from around 1 million years in the past would be considered very distant relatives. Modern technology and genetic analysis provide insights into how closely related different species are. For instance, humans and chimpanzees are considered closely related, sharing about 98% of their genes, indicating a recent common ancestor. However, species that have diverged for a million years, like the two hypothetical species mentioned in the question, have accumulated many genetic differences over time. Therefore, despite having a common ancestor, they are not very closely related by evolutionary standards. Phylogenetic trees are a useful tool in visualizing these relationships and understanding evolutionary divergence.