QuestionJune 1, 2025

Which of the following is true of all horizontally-oriented phylogenetic trees, in which time advances to the right? The fewer branch points that occur between two taxa, the more divergent their DNA sequences should be. Organisms represented at the base of such trees are descendants of those represented at higher levels. Each branch point represents a point in absolute time. Ancestors represented on a rightmost branch exist more recently than ancestors on a leftmost branch.

Which of the following is true of all horizontally-oriented phylogenetic trees, in which time advances to the right? The fewer branch points that occur between two taxa, the more divergent their DNA sequences should be. Organisms represented at the base of such trees are descendants of those represented at higher levels. Each branch point represents a point in absolute time. Ancestors represented on a rightmost branch exist more recently than ancestors on a leftmost branch.
Which of the following is true of all horizontally-oriented phylogenetic trees, in which time advances to the right? The fewer branch points that occur between two taxa, the more divergent their DNA sequences should be. Organisms represented at the base of such trees are descendants of those represented at higher levels. Each branch point represents a point in absolute time. Ancestors represented on a rightmost branch exist more recently than ancestors on a leftmost branch.

Solution
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Answer

Ancestors represented on a rightmost branch exist more recently than ancestors on a leftmost branch. Explanation 1. Analyze the structure of horizontally-oriented phylogenetic trees In these trees, time advances to the right. The position on the horizontal axis indicates relative recency. 2. Evaluate each statement - "The fewer branch points that occur between two taxa, the more divergent their DNA sequences should be." This is incorrect; fewer branch points suggest closer relation and less divergence. - "Organisms represented at the base of such trees are descendants of those represented at higher levels." This is incorrect; organisms at the base are ancestors, not descendants. - "Each branch point represents a point in absolute time." This is incorrect; branch points represent relative divergence events, not absolute time. - "Ancestors represented on a rightmost branch exist more recently than ancestors on a leftmost branch." This is correct; rightmost branches indicate more recent existence due to the direction of time flow.

Explanation

1. Analyze the structure of horizontally-oriented phylogenetic trees<br /> In these trees, time advances to the right. The position on the horizontal axis indicates relative recency.<br /><br />2. Evaluate each statement<br /> - "The fewer branch points that occur between two taxa, the more divergent their DNA sequences should be." This is incorrect; fewer branch points suggest closer relation and less divergence.<br /> - "Organisms represented at the base of such trees are descendants of those represented at higher levels." This is incorrect; organisms at the base are ancestors, not descendants.<br /> - "Each branch point represents a point in absolute time." This is incorrect; branch points represent relative divergence events, not absolute time.<br /> - "Ancestors represented on a rightmost branch exist more recently than ancestors on a leftmost branch." This is correct; rightmost branches indicate more recent existence due to the direction of time flow.
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