Question

Which observation would most seriously challenge the hypothesis that most noncoding DNA is slightly deleterious?

- Species with smaller population sizes have more noncoding DNA.
- Species with larger genomes lose DNA more quickly through mutational processes than those with smaller genomes.
- There is an inverse relationship between the total amount of DNA in the genome and the percentage of the DNA that is noncoding.
- Species with larger population sizes have more noncoding DNA.
- Species with larger genomes lose DNA more slowly through mutational processes than those with larger genomes.

Answer 1

Species with larger population sizes have more noncoding DNA.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that most non-coding DNA is deleterious contradicts the fact that Species with larger population sizes have more noncoding DNA. Had the non coding been deleterious , its proportion in species with larger population would have been less but the fact that species with larger population sizes have more noncoding DNA contradicts it.