The phylogeny of prokaryotes
A) reveals that spirochetes are the most ancient existing bacterial species.
B) is completely resolved.
C) is easily understood, because of the phenomenon of lateral gene transfer.
D) is now based on gene sequences.
E) reveals that the Archaea and Bacteria do not share a common ancestor.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phylogeny of prokaryotes is now based on gene sequences, which allows for more accurate classification and understanding of evolutionary relationships among different prokaryotic groups.

Answer: A
 The idea that spirochetes are the most ancient existing bacterial species is a hypothesis, but it is not universally accepted and there is not enough evidence to confirm it.

Answer: E
 The Archaea and Bacteria are thought to have diverged from a common ancestor, and share many features such as the absence of a nucleus and the presence of circular chromosomes. Therefore, they are believed to be part of the same domain of life.

Answer: C
 Lateral gene transfer (the transfer of genetic material between different organisms) can make the interpretation of prokaryotic phylogenies more complicated, but it does not prevent their understanding.

The Phylogeny of Prokaryotes