The 16S rRNA is used to study evolutionary relatedness because _____.
A)it is the easiest type of RNA to sequence
B)ribosomes have evolved very slowly due to their essential roles in cells
C)ribosomes evolve very quickly so differences are easy to spot
D)None of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ribosomes have evolved very slowly due to their essential roles in cells. The 16S rRNA gene is a highly conserved gene that is found in all bacteria, and the nucleotide sequences of this gene are similar among all bacterial species. This makes it a useful tool for studying evolutionary relatedness among bacteria.

The 16S RRNA Is Used to Study Evolutionary Relatedness Because