Evidence for the relatively close relationship of archaea to eukaryotes includes
A)the absence of introns from genes in both groups.
B)the fact that both contain circular DNA without histones.
C)the presence of peptidoglycan in the cell walls of both groups.
D)the fact that both have several kinds of relatively complex RNA polymerases.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of several kinds of relatively complex RNA polymerases is evidence for the close relationship of archaea and eukaryotes. Both groups use multiple RNA polymerases, while bacteria typically have only one, suggesting that the complexity of the transcription machinery evolved independently in these two groups. The absence of introns from genes and the presence of peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls are features that distinguish archaea and eukaryotes from bacteria, indicating that they are not closely related. The fact that both groups contain circular DNA without histones may be a shared ancestral trait, but it is not sufficient evidence on its own to support a close relationship.

Evidence for the Relatively Close Relationship of Archaea to Eukaryotes