Researchers suspect that the gene FOXP2,which is involved in speech and cognition,has been under positive selection in the human lineage.Which observation would provide the strongest support for such a claim?
A) Genotypes at this locus are at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
B) There is a higher rate of nonsynonymous substitutions than synonymous ones.
C) There is a lower rate of nonsynonymous substitutions than synonymous ones.
D) The gene evolves following the molecular clock.
E) The gene is a pseudogene.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A higher rate of nonsynonymous substitutions than synonymous ones indicates that there has been positive selection acting on the gene, favoring changes that lead to a difference in the protein product. This strongly suggests that the gene has played an important role in human evolution, potentially in the development of speech and cognition.

Researchers Suspect That the Gene FOXP2,which Is Involved in Speech