Question

Why is rRNA sequencing significant in the classification of eukaryotic microbes?

A)To determine evolutionary relationships
B)To identify specific metabolic pathways
C)To assess cellular morphology
D)To measure growth rates

Answer 1

rRNA sequencing is critical for classifying eukaryotic microbes as it helps in determining evolutionary relationships, creating accurate phylogenies, and identifying mutations and homoplasies.

Step-by-step explanation:

rRNA sequencing is significant in the classification of eukaryotic microbes because it is used to determine evolutionary relationships among organisms. The rRNA sequence data can be compared across different specimens to decipher accurate phylogenies, helping to eliminate analogous traits that may have arisen due to convergent evolution, and allowing for the identification of mutations in DNA codes. As organisms evolve, rRNA genes accumulate changes, so the sequences can be used to construct a 'molecular clock' to estimate the time of divergence among species. Additionally, rRNA sequencing can help to locate homoplasies which are characters that appear to be the same but are not due to shared ancestry. This molecular approach provides a more precise understanding of the diversity and relationships among organisms that might not be evident from morphological characteristics alone.