Final answer:
Scientists use DNA sequence analysis to deduce evolutionary relationships, constructing phylogenetic trees and refining our understanding of species kinship and evolution. This process, which includes the study of genomic fossils, has vastly improved our ability to trace the evolutionary history of life.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scientists can determine evolutionary relationships by analyzing DNA sequences. More similarities in DNA suggest a closer evolutionary link, providing evidence of shared common ancestry. By comparing these sequences, researchers can construct phylogenetic trees, which are diagrams that trace the lineage and evolutionary kinship among species. Molecular systematics uses DNA data to refine biological classification and elucidate the history of life on Earth. It combines genome comparisons, DNA and protein sequence homology, and sophisticated computational tools, revolutionizing the understanding of how evolution operates.
Genomic fossils also play a role by allowing the study of DNA extracted from ancient remains to confirm evolutionary theories. This aspect combines modern DNA sequencing from living species and extinct ones to infer ancestral genetic makeup. Molecular evidence thus becomes a cornerstone in the study of evolutionary biology, providing clarity and correcting earlier classification errors based on physical traits alone.