Question

The evolutionary relationships between seven different species—G, H, J, K, L, M, and N—are diagrammed in Figure Q9-33. Given this information, which of the following statements is false?

(a) These are all highly related species, because the sequence divergence between the most divergent species is 3%.
(b) Species M is just as related to species G as it is to species J.
(c) Species N is more closely related to the last common ancestor of all of these species than to any of the other species shown in the diagram.
(d) Species G and H are as closely related to each other as species J and K are to each other.

Answer 1

The false statement is that Species M is just as related to species G as it is to species J.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the given diagram, the evolutionary relationships between seven different species are shown. Let's analyze each statement to determine which one is false:

(a) The statement is true. All the species shown are highly related because the sequence divergence between the most divergent species is 3%.

(b) The statement is false. Species M is not equally related to species G and J. Species M is more closely related to species G than to species J.

(c) The statement is true. Species N is more closely related to the last common ancestor of all the species than to any of the other species shown in the diagram.

(d) The statement is false. Species G and H are not as closely related to each other as species J and K are to each other. Species J and K share a more recent common ancestor.

Based on this analysis, the false statement is (b) Species M is just as related to species G as it is to species J.

Answer 2

The false statement among the given options is these are all highly related species, because the sequence divergence between the most divergent species is 3%.

So, the correct answer is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let’s analyze each statement to determine which one is false:

• (a) These are all highly related species, because the sequence divergence between the most divergent species is 3%: This statement is false. The level of relatedness between species cannot be solely determined by the sequence divergence between the most divergent species. Other factors such as genetic similarities and common ancestry need to be considered. Therefore, it is not accurate to conclude that these are all highly related species based solely on a 3% sequence divergence.
• (b) Species M is just as related to species G as it is to species J: This statement could be true or false depending on the specific evolutionary relationships depicted in Figure Q9-33. Without further information about the diagram and the evolutionary distances between the species, it is not possible to determine the accuracy of this statement.
• (c) Species N is more closely related to the last common ancestor of all of these species than to any of the other species shown in the diagram: This statement could be true based on the evolutionary relationships depicted in Figure Q9-33. If the diagram shows that species N shares a more recent common ancestor with the other species compared to their relationships with each other, then this statement would be true.
• (d) Species G and H are as closely related to each other as species J and K are to each other: This statement could be true or false depending on the specific evolutionary relationships depicted in Figure Q9-33. Without further information about the diagram and the evolutionary distances between the species, it is not possible to determine the accuracy of this statement.

In conclusion, based on the information provided, statement (a) is false.