A scientist is trying to determine how closely related a moth species (Species Z) is to four other moth species (Species A, B, C, and D). He examined the DNA of each species and compared it to the study subject. He then created this table.
| Species | # of genetic differences |
| :-------- | :----------------------- |
| Species A | 12 |
| Species B | 3 |
| Species C | 14 |
| Species D | 28 |
Which species is most closely related to the moth species (Species Z)?
A. species A
B. species B
C. species C
D. species D
Answer (2)
Analyze the table to identify the number of genetic differences between Species Z and each of the other species.
Compare the number of genetic differences for each species.
Identify the species with the fewest genetic differences.
Conclude that Species B, with only 3 genetic differences, is the most closely related to Species Z. s p ec i es B
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given a table that shows the number of genetic differences between moth species Z and four other moth species: A, B, C, and D. The species with the fewest genetic differences is the most closely related to species Z.
Identifying the Goal We need to compare the number of genetic differences for each species to identify the smallest value.
Listing the Data Species A has 12 genetic differences. Species B has 3 genetic differences. Species C has 14 genetic differences. Species D has 28 genetic differences.
Comparing the Values Comparing the number of genetic differences, we see that Species B has the fewest (3).
Conclusion Therefore, Species B is the most closely related to Species Z.
Examples
In biology, understanding the genetic relationships between species helps us trace their evolutionary history. For example, if we are studying a newly discovered plant species, comparing its DNA to that of known plants can reveal which species it is most closely related to. This information can then be used to classify the new species and understand its unique characteristics. This is similar to how the moth species were compared in the problem.
Species B is the most closely related to Species Z, as it has the fewest genetic differences (3) compared to the other species A (12), C (14), and D (28). Therefore, the answer is B: species B.
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