When human DNA molecules and chimpanzee DNA molecules are heated to separate the two sides of the molecules from each other and then mixed together at cooler temperatures, strands of human DNA are able to form hydrogen bonds and base-pair with over 98% of the nucleotides in the chimpanzee DNA strands. Which of the following is the most logical conclusion to draw from this information?

A. Humans evolved from chimpanzees.

B. Ilumans and chimpanzees share a relatively recent common ancestor.

C. Chimpanzees evolved from humans.

D. Convergent evolution has led to similar nucleotide sequences in the two genomes.

Question

Biology

Cristal Ellis

17 August, 04:57

When human DNA molecules and chimpanzee DNA molecules are heated to separate the two sides of the molecules from each other and then mixed together at cooler temperatures, strands of human DNA are able to form hydrogen bonds and base-pair with over 98% of the nucleotides in the chimpanzee DNA strands. Which of the following is the most logical conclusion to draw from this information?

A. Humans evolved from chimpanzees.

B. Ilumans and chimpanzees share a relatively recent common ancestor.

C. Chimpanzees evolved from humans.

D. Convergent evolution has led to similar nucleotide sequences in the two genomes.

+1

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Ryker Stephens · Answer 1

B. Humans and chimpanzees share a relatively recent common ancestor.

Explanation:

Both the humans and Chimpanzees are the primates that are they belong to the same group called hominids and genus called Homo.

When the DNA sequences of the Chimpanzees and the Humans are sequenced and compared than they showed that 98% of the genome is similar.

In the given question, the single strands of the humans and the chimpanzees base-paired which showed that 98% of the nucleotide sequence is the same. The most possible reason for this similarity is that they both were evolved from the common ancestors and they diverged recently in the past.

Thus, Option-B is correct.