Some proteins have a slower molecular clock due to _____ selection, which eliminates harmful alleles.
A)negative
B)positive
C)neutral
D)beneficial
E)disruptive

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Negative selection eliminates harmful alleles from a population, which in turn leads to a slower molecular clock for proteins. This is because harmful mutations are more likely to be eliminated, leaving only more stable and conserved mutations in the protein sequence over time. Positive and beneficial selection, on the other hand, can lead to faster molecular clocks as advantageous mutations are more likely to spread throughout a population. Neutral and disruptive selection do not directly affect the molecular clock of proteins.

Some Proteins Have a Slower Molecular Clock Due to _____