Q41 - Methodological Pitfalls in Molecular Phylogenetics
Molecular phylogenetics is a powerful tool for inferring phylogenetic relationships among extant species. The following are methodological statements on molecular phylogenetics.
Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.
A. We must choose gene(s) with faster evolutionary rate(s) when inferring a phylogenetic tree of species with older divergence.
B. In order to infer phylogenetic relationships between species, paralogous gene(s) that were duplicated during the evolution of the subject group should not be analyzed.
C. To root a phylogenetic tree with an outgroup, we should choose a species, which is as distantly related to the subject species as possible.
D. Two species (sp. X and sp. Y) are described based on morphological characteristics. Here, we sequenced a gene from five individuals of each species. As a result, we found that the gene sequence of an individual of sp. Y is more similar to those of five individuals of sp. X than those of other four individuals of sp. Y. This result contradicts the biological species concept.
Question reproduced from IBO 2020, Theoretical Exam 1, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Community solutions (unofficial)