Final answer:
Cytochrome c has advantages as a molecular marker in constructing phylogenetic trees, including its high conservation and presence in all eukaryotes. However, its small size may limit its ability to determine distant evolutionary relationships.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cytochrome c has several advantages in constructing a phylogenetic tree. One advantage is that it is highly conserved, meaning that it has changed very little over millions of years. This allows scientists to compare the cytochrome c sequences of different species and assess their evolutionary relationships. Another advantage is that cytochrome c is present in all eukaryotic organisms, making it a widely available protein for analysis.
However, there is also a disadvantage to using cytochrome c in phylogenetic tree construction. Since cytochrome c is a small protein, it may not provide enough information to accurately determine distant evolutionary relationships. Other larger and more complex proteins may be better suited for studying deeper branches on the phylogenetic tree.