Question

The molecular clock theory uses genetic traits to estimate how long ago various groups of organisms diverged evolutionary from one another. Which of the following statements explains why this is considered to be a theory?
A) Many scientific investigations have provided evidence to support this as the best explanation of the data.

B) This is an opinion held by a group of scientists that cannot be proven or dis proven.

C) Because many scientists interpret the same data differently, it cannot be considered anything more than a theory.

D) This is an educated guess made by a scientist who published his findings for others to read.

Answer 1

Many scientific investigations have provided evidence to support this as the best explanation of the data

Answer 2

Answer;

A) Many scientific investigations have provided evidence to support this as the best explanation of the data.

Explanation;

• Molecular clock is a method that is used to determine time, based on base-pair substitutions. Molecular clocks use the rates of molecular change to deduce the divergence time between two lineages in a phylogeny.
• They work best when they can be "calibrated" with other markers of time, such as fossils with known ages.
• Molecular clocks use neutral theory to date events within a phylogeny and can be affected by the segments of DNA being examined and relative sizes of the populations.