Question

The mitochondrial DNA of a young girl's teeth, found in the Yucatán peninsula and dating to 13,000-12,000 years ago, is:

a. Completely unique in the genetic record and cannot be connected, at this point, to any other ethnic group.
b. Closely related to that of the groups of Siberian Homo sapiens who migrated to Beringia during the Ice Age.
c. Impossible to reconstruct, given the limitations of modern genetic science.
d. Compelling evidence of a mixed Neanderthal and Homo sapiens heritage.

Answer 1

The mitochondrial DNA of the young girl's teeth found in the Yucatán peninsula is closely related to that of the groups of Siberian Homo sapiens who migrated to Beringia during the Ice Age.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mitochondrial DNA of the young girl's teeth found in the Yucatán peninsula dating to 13,000-12,000 years ago is closely related to that of the groups of Siberian Homo sapiens who migrated to Beringia during the Ice Age (option B). This indicates a common ancestry with Siberian Homo sapiens and suggests that the girl's ancestors migrated from Siberia to the Yucatán peninsula. The finding does not provide evidence of a mixed Neanderthal and Homo sapiens heritage (option D) or suggest a completely unique genetic record (option A). It is also not impossible to reconstruct, given the limitations of modern genetic science (option C).