Final answer:
Molecular clocks can be calibrated using fossils of a known age. Both statements regarding molecular clocks using neutral theory for dating events and being calibrated using fossils are true. Molecular clocks estimate divergence times based on DNA or protein sequence differences, calibrated and refined with the fossil record for accuracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
A true statement about molecular clocks is that molecular clocks can be calibrated using fossils of a known age. Molecular clocks use DNA sequences or the proteins they encode to estimate the time of divergence between species. By comparing the DNA sequences of different species and using fossils with known ages, scientists can refine and calibrate molecular clocks to infer the timing of evolution events.
Both statements regarding molecular clocks using neutral theory for dating events and being calibrated using fossils are true. Molecular clocks estimate divergence times based on DNA or protein sequence differences, calibrated and refined with the fossil record for accuracy.
The correct statement about molecular clocks is that both statements 1) Molecular clocks use neutral theory to date events within a phylogeny and 2) Molecular clocks can be calibrated using fossils of a known age are true. Molecular clocks utilize DNA sequences or amino acid sequences to estimate the time since two species diverged from a common ancestor by focusing on regions where mutations accumulate at a constant rate, assuming that this rate remains relatively steady over time. However, it's essential to note that the mutation rate can be variable and is sometimes refined using the fossil record to increase accuracy in the calibration of molecular clocks.