Fragments of DNA have been extracted from the remnants of extinct woolly mammoths, amplified, and sequenced. These can now be used to
A) introduce into relatives, such as elephants, certain mammoth traits.
B) clone live woolly mammoths.
C) study the relationships among woolly mammoths and other wool-producers.
D) understand the evolutionary relationships among members of related taxa.
E) appreciate the reasons why mammoths went extinct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fragments of DNA extracted from woolly mammoths can be used to understand the evolutionary relationships among members of related taxa. This is because the DNA contains genetic information that can help in tracing the evolutionary history of related species. By comparing the DNA sequences of different species, scientists can determine how closely related they are and how they have evolved over time. This can help in understanding the evolutionary relationships among woolly mammoths and other wool-producing animals. The other choices are not feasible because introducing mammoth traits into relatives or cloning live woolly mammoths are not currently possible, and studying the relationships among woolly mammoths and other wool-producers does not require DNA sequencing. E is a secondary benefit rather than the main purpose of DNA sequencing woolly mammoths.

Fragments of DNA Have Been Extracted from the Remnants of Extinct