Hard: Molecular Taxonomy
Which molecular feature is most commonly compared to infer deep evolutionary divergence among major eukaryotic lineages?
Select the correct option:
🔒 Solution Hidden from View
Submit your answer to unlock the detailed step-by-step solution.
More diversity in living world Practice Questions
If the estimated number of described species on Earth is about 1.7 million and animals constitute ro...
If the estimated number of described species on Earth is about 1.7 million and animals constitute ro...
Coelenterates such as Hydra capture prey and defend themselves using specialised stinging cells; wha...
Coelenterates such as Hydra capture prey and defend themselves using specialised stinging cells; wha...
Arthropoda is considered the largest phylum in the animal kingdom; which combination of features chi...
Arthropoda is considered the largest phylum in the animal kingdom; which combination of features chi...
Sponges of the phylum Porifera maintain a continuous water current through their body by means of a ...
Sponges of the phylum Porifera maintain a continuous water current through their body by means of a ...
Three fundamental characters are shared by every chordate at some stage of life; which set correctly...
Three fundamental characters are shared by every chordate at some stage of life; which set correctly...
Roundworms belonging to phylum Aschelminthes represent an evolutionary advance over flatworms primar...
Roundworms belonging to phylum Aschelminthes represent an evolutionary advance over flatworms primar...
Rapid proliferation of certain photosynthetic dinoflagellates in coastal waters can turn the sea red...
Rapid proliferation of certain photosynthetic dinoflagellates in coastal waters can turn the sea red...
A fungus reproducing sexually through ascospores borne inside sac-like asci, exemplified by Penicill...
A fungus reproducing sexually through ascospores borne inside sac-like asci, exemplified by Penicill...
Bryophytes are frequently described as the amphibians of the plant kingdom mainly because of which d...
Bryophytes are frequently described as the amphibians of the plant kingdom mainly because of which d...
Gymnosperms are distinguished from angiosperms by a feature of their reproductive biology in which t...
Gymnosperms are distinguished from angiosperms by a feature of their reproductive biology in which t...
Members of the brown algae owe their characteristic colouration to the dominance of a specific acces...
Members of the brown algae owe their characteristic colouration to the dominance of a specific acces...
Investigations on the tobacco mosaic virus revealed that its genetic material differs from that of m...
Investigations on the tobacco mosaic virus revealed that its genetic material differs from that of m...
About This Question
- Subject
- biology
- Chapter
- diversity in living world
- Topic
- hard: molecular taxonomy
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
18S rRNA sequences
- Universal Clock: For deep phylogenetic studies (going back millions of years), we need highly conserved molecular markers.
- rRNA: Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes are present in all living things and change very slowly over time.
- Target: In prokaryotes, researchers use 16S rRNA; in eukaryotes, the 18S rRNA sequence is the standard for reconstructing ancient evolutionary relationships.
- Other Features: Size, membrane thickness, or lipid content vary too quickly and are too dependent on environmental/adaptive factors to be reliable markers for deep evolutionary time.
This hard difficulty biology question is from the chapter diversity in living world, covering the topic of hard: molecular taxonomy. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
Looking for more practice? Explore all biology questions or browse diversity in living world questions on RankGuru.