The genomes of closely related species are more similar than distantly related species because _____.
A) the less time since the species diverged, the more lethal DNA mutations will accumulate
B) the more time since the species diverged, the more neutral DNA mutations will accumulate
C) the less time since the species diverged, the more neutral DNA mutations will accumulate
D) the more time since the species converged, the fewer adaptive DNA mutations will accumulate
E) all organisms will accumulate lethal DNA mutations at the same rate

Question

The genomes of closely related species are more similar than distantly related species because _____.​
A) ​the less time since the species diverged, the more lethal DNA mutations will accumulate
B) the more time since the species diverged, the more neutral DNA mutations will accumulate​
C) ​the less time since the species diverged, the more neutral DNA mutations will accumulate
D) ​the more time since the species converged, the fewer adaptive DNA mutations will accumulate
E) ​all organisms will accumulate lethal DNA mutations at the same rate

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The more time since species diverged, the more opportunities there are for neutral DNA mutations to accumulate, leading to greater genetic differences. Neutral mutations do not affect an organism's ability to survive and reproduce, so they can accumulate over time, making the genomes of distantly related species more different than those of closely related species.

The Genomes of Closely Related Species Are More Similar Than