Questions: The following question refers to this phylogenetic tree, depicting the origins of life and the three domains. Horizontal lines indicate instances of gene or genome transfer. A possible phylogenetic tree for the three domains of life. Which of these processes can be included among those responsible for the horizontal components of the figure? point mutations binary fission endosymbiosis mitosis

The following question refers to this phylogenetic tree, depicting the origins of life and the three domains. Horizontal lines indicate instances of gene or genome transfer.

A possible phylogenetic tree for the three domains of life.

Which of these processes can be included among those responsible for the horizontal components of the figure?
point mutations
binary fission
endosymbiosis
mitosis

Transcript text: The following question refers to this phylogenetic tree, depicting the origins of life and the three domains. Horizontal lines indicate instances of gene or genome transfer. A possible phylogenetic tree for the three domains of life. Which of these processes can be included among those responsible for the horizontal components of the figure? point mutations binary fission endosymbiosis mitosis

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Understand the Phylogenetic Tree

The phylogenetic tree depicts the origins of life and the three domains: Bacteria, Eukarya, and Archaea. The horizontal lines indicate instances of gene or genome transfer.

Step 2: Identify Horizontal Gene Transfer

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the movement of genetic material between organisms other than by the "vertical" transmission of DNA from parent to offspring. This is depicted by the horizontal lines in the phylogenetic tree.

Step 3: Evaluate the Given Processes

Point mutations: These are changes in a single nucleotide in DNA and do not involve horizontal transfer.
Binary fission: This is a form of asexual reproduction in bacteria and does not involve horizontal transfer.
Endosymbiosis: This is a process where one organism lives inside another, and it can involve horizontal gene transfer, especially in the context of the origin of eukaryotic cells.
Mitosis: This is a process of cell division in eukaryotic cells and does not involve horizontal transfer.