Figure : One concern about the molecular clock is heterogeneity of rates among l

Question

Figure : One concern about the molecular clock is heterogeneity of rates among lineages. Such heterogeneity could call into question the validity of molecular clock estimates. A common way to test for rate heterogeneity is the relative rates test. A) If there is no rate heterogeneity, what would one expect for the amount of divergence between an invertebrate and a nonmetazoan and a vertebrate and the same nonmetazoan? B) If a gene evolves faster in vertebrates than it does in invertebrates, what would one expect for the amount of divergence between an invertebrate and a nonmetazoan and a vertebrate and the same nonmetazoan? Non metazoan All invertebrates All vertebrates

Explanation / Answer

A) The rate of heterogeneity is directly proportional to the amount of divergence. Heterogeneity is caused due to mutations in gene. If there is no mutation in the gene, then no heterogeneity rate is observed. And the vertebrates and invertebrates are derived from the non- metazoan. So the rate of heterogeneity between them is almost negligible.

B) If a gene evolves faster in vertebrates. Then the amount of divergence increases because the rate of heterogeneity is also high. So the divergence of vertebrates and non metozoan is more. The amount of divergence between the invertebrates and non metazoan will be low because the evolution of gene is very slow.

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