Final answer:
Comparing chromosome pair numbers is not a good method for determining species' relationships. Instead, genetic information and both morphologic and molecular data are combined using statistical algorithms to accurately infer evolutionary relationships. The correct option is b. false
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparing the relative number of chromosome pairs is not a reliable method to determine whether two species are closely related. Even though species may have the same number of chromosome pairs, they can be quite distant evolutionarily. For instance, cytogenetic mapping, which involves the microscopic analysis of stained chromosomes, shows species-specific characteristics like the number, sizes, and shapes of chromosomes. When constructing a karyotype, these features can be compared, but it's the detailed genetic information that truly reflects evolutionary relationships.
Genetic similarities between species can sometimes be misleading, as two segments of DNA in distantly related organisms may coincidentally share a high percentage of bases, which might suggest a close relationship where there actually is none. For example, the fruit fly shares 60 percent of its DNA with humans. To clarify actual relationships, scientists combine both morphologic and molecular information and utilize computer-based statistical algorithms, which are more effective in determining phylogeny. The correct option is b. false