Page 297 - ABCTE Study Guide_Neat

We’ll discuss the fossil evidence for evolution in a later section, but based on phylogenetic
relationships from the fossil record, the following diagram illustrates how the kingdoms of living
organisms are related.

This NASA image shows the division among bacteria, archaea, and eucarya.

The first organisms were single-celled prokaryotes that arose almost four billion years ago. Protists arose
when oxygen began to build up in the atmosphere around 2.5 billion years ago. This group has both
animal- and plantlike members giving rise to the fungi, plants, and animals.

Question

The use of DNA analysis in taxonomy is most useful in

A reducing the need for fossil evidence in classification.

B clarifying relationships among species.

C discovering new species.

D eliminating the use of binomial nomenclature.

Answer

B is correct and represents the greatest use of DNA evidence. Though it can reveal new species, DNA
has also shown separate species to actually be the same genetically, thus clarifying relationships among
species.