Q1CC

Question

Would you expect the genome of the macaque (a monkey) to be more like that of a mouse or that of a human? Explain.

Step-by-Step Solution

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Answer

Primates, such as humans and macaques, would have genomes that are more similar than that of mice and macaques. Before the human and macaque lineages diverged, a mouse lineage broke from the primate lineage. That is why monkeys and humans have more similar genomes.

1Primates

Primates possess distinguishing traits such as a skull, teeth, and limbs that set them apart from other animals. There are around 300 species in this group, including apes, monkeys, and humans. After bats and rodents, they are the third most common group of mammals.

2Genome

Genomes contain all of the genetic information of an organism. Each cell in the body contains a specific set of genes that are encoded as DNA or RNA sequences. It is the whole set of an organism's genes, including non-coding sequences. A human genome contains all of the information required to construct them.

3Lineage

The lineage of two species has diverged as a result of evolution, and many species that were once related have split apart and evolved into new ones. Monkey and mouse genomes are far less similar than the monkey and human genomes, despite the fact that they share comparable DNA.