If additional DNA sequence evidence shows that yeast genes for synthesizing proteins are more similar to protein-synthesizing genes in bacteria than those in archaea, what would a systematist do with the current phylogeny?
A) redraw the phylogeny to show eukaryotes sharing a more recent common ancestor with bacteria than archaea
B) redraw the phylogeny to show more recent common ancestry between archaea and yeast than between eukaryotes and archaea
C) retain the phylogeny that shows a more recent common ancestor between eukaryotes and archaea
D) retain the phylogeny that shows a more recent common ancestor between bacteria and archaea

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Given the new DNA sequence evidence indicating that yeast (a eukaryote) genes for synthesizing proteins are more similar to those in bacteria than those in archaea, a systematist would likely redraw the phylogeny to reflect a closer evolutionary relationship between eukaryotes and bacteria, as suggested in option A. This would mean adjusting the phylogenetic tree to show eukaryotes sharing a more recent common ancestor with bacteria than with archaea, based on the newly discovered similarity in protein-synthesizing genes.

If Additional DNA Sequence Evidence Shows That Yeast Genes for Synthesizing