Final answer:
The DNA sequence that is least likely to accommodate mutations is Option B. regulatory DNA sequences, as mutations in these areas can result in significant changes in gene expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The DNA sequence that is LEAST likely to accommodate mutations is B. regulatory DNA sequences. Regulatory DNA sequences are crucial for the control of gene expression and any mutations there can lead to significant changes in the functionality of genes. Compared to options A, C, and D, regulatory sequences must maintain their integrity to ensure the correct expression patterns of proteins. Mutations in ribosomal RNA (option A) do tend to be deleterious, but some parts of ribosomal RNA molecules are more tolerant to change than others.
The coding sequence of a duplicated gene (option C) could potentially accumulate mutations without major effects since there is a backup copy of the gene. DNA sequences found between genes (option D) are often less conserved and can tolerate higher mutation rates without impacting an organism’s fitness as they often do not contain critical coding information.