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Multiple Choice
Which can be concluded from a comparison of the two phylogenetic trees?
A
If the trees have different branching patterns, it means the species are not related at all.
B
The species at the tips of the trees must have evolved at the same time.
C
The evolutionary relationships among the species are consistent if the branching patterns are the same in both trees.
D
Phylogenetic trees cannot provide any information about evolutionary relationships.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the purpose of phylogenetic trees. Phylogenetic trees are diagrams that represent evolutionary relationships among species based on shared traits or genetic information. They help scientists infer how species are related and their evolutionary history.
Step 2: Analyze the branching patterns of phylogenetic trees. The branching patterns indicate the relationships among species. If two trees have the same branching patterns, it suggests that the evolutionary relationships inferred from the data are consistent.
Step 3: Address the incorrect statements. For example, the statement 'If the trees have different branching patterns, it means the species are not related at all' is incorrect because differences in branching patterns may arise due to variations in data or methods used to construct the trees, not necessarily a lack of relationship.
Step 4: Clarify the correct conclusion. The correct conclusion is: 'The evolutionary relationships among the species are consistent if the branching patterns are the same in both trees.' This means that the trees support the same hypothesis about how the species are related.
Step 5: Highlight the limitations of phylogenetic trees. While phylogenetic trees provide valuable insights into evolutionary relationships, they are hypotheses based on available data and may not capture all aspects of evolutionary history. They do not imply that species at the tips evolved at the same time or that they provide no information about evolutionary relationships.