Questions: The fact that DNA sequences are more similar in more closely related organisms is evidence of what?
Mutation
Descent with modification
Adaptation
Biogeography
Transcript text: The fact that DNA sequences are more similar in more closely related organisms is evidence of what?
Mutation
Descent with modification
Adaptation
Biogeography
Solution
The answer is the second one: Descent with modification.
Explanation for each option:
Mutation: While mutations are changes in DNA sequences that can lead to genetic diversity, the similarity of DNA sequences in closely related organisms is not directly evidence of mutation. Instead, mutations contribute to genetic variation over time.
Descent with modification: This is the correct answer. Descent with modification refers to the process by which organisms pass on traits to their offspring, with slight modifications over generations. The similarity in DNA sequences among closely related organisms supports the idea that they share a common ancestor and have diverged over time through descent with modification.
Adaptation: Adaptation refers to the process by which organisms become better suited to their environment. While adaptations can result from genetic changes, the similarity of DNA sequences in related organisms is not direct evidence of adaptation.
Biogeography: Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time. While it can provide evidence for evolution, the similarity of DNA sequences is not directly related to biogeography.
In summary, the similarity of DNA sequences in more closely related organisms is evidence of descent with modification, indicating a shared evolutionary history.