Comparisons of entire genomes among prokaryotes have revealed a stable core of crucial genes that are unaffected by lateral gene transfer.Which statement concerning this discovery is false?
A) Genes involved in fundamental cellular processes are unlikely to be replaced by lateral gene transfer.
B) Lateral gene transfer enables rapid acquisition of traits adapted to specific environments.
C) The discovery will facilitate understanding of phylogenetic relationships of prokaryotes.
D) The results must be treated cautiously because of the small percentage of prokaryotes for which entire genomes are known.
E) Lateral gene transfer makes reconstructing evolutionary patterns among prokaryotes almost impossible.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Although lateral gene transfer can make reconstructing evolutionary patterns among prokaryotes more challenging, it is not impossible. The stable core of crucial genes provides a framework for understanding the relationships among prokaryotes, and phylogenetic analysis can still be used to construct evolutionary trees.

Comparisons of Entire Genomes Among Prokaryotes Have Revealed a Stable