4.2.4 Quiz: Phylogenetic Systematics
Question 1 of 10

Scientists compared the nucleotide sequences for a particular gene between several Canidae species. They found 241 differences between a gray wolf's sequence and a maned wolf's sequence. They found 97 differences between a gray wolf's sequence and a golden jackal's sequence.

Based on the data, what can you conclude?

A. Gray wolves are more closely related to maned wolves, because they are both wolves.
B. Gray wolves are only distantly related to golden jackals, because they are different colors.
C. Gray wolves are more distantly related to maned wolves, because their DNA sequences are more different.
D. The gray wolf's ancestor was the golden jackal, because they share a lot of their DNA.