Question

Based on the sequence analyses of the three mitochondrial genes, scientists hypothesize that the La Plata river dolphin is more closely related to the Amazon river dolphin than to the Chinese river dolphin. Evaluate this hypothesis by describing the sequence data that would support this hypothesis.

Answer 1

Answer:

The sequence data that would support this hypothesis would involve there being relatively more differences found between the three mitochondrial genes' sequences of the La Plata River dolphin and the sequences of the Chinese River dolphin.

There should also be fewer differences between the three mitochondrial genes' sequences of the La Plata River dolphin and the sequences of the Amazon River Dolphin.

Explanation:

This is because fewer differences between the mitochondrial gene sequences of two species indicate closer relatedness and more differences indicate lower relatedness.