Question

Mutations in a gene occur at a rate of one nucleotide every 10 million years. The gene sequence differs by 6 nucleotides between two related organisms. How long ago did these organisms split from a common ancestor

Answer 1

Total time split from a common ancestor = 30 million

Step-by-step explanation:

Given:

Number of nucleotide = 6

Number of organism = 2

Rate one nucleotide = 10 million year

Computation:

Total time split from a common ancestor = [Rate one nucleotide / Number of organism]Number of nucleotide

Total time split from a common ancestor = [10 million / 2] 6

Total time split from a common ancestor = [5 million] 6

Total time split from a common ancestor = 30 million