Question

A molecule that can be used as a molecular clock has a neutral mutation rate of one mutation per 10 million years. How many years ago did two species share a common ancestor if the molecules found in these two species differ by a total of six mutations?
Answer
6 million years
10 million years
30 million years
60 million years

Answer 1

The question probably wants you to multiply the 10 million * 6 mutations for 60 million years.

In real life that is wrong: occasionally the same mutation occurs in the DNA from both the reference species and the target species, so by comparing the two it is impossible to tell that a mutation has happened. Effectively, the time since the species diverged is underestimated.

Clear?

Answer 2

yea but still confused on the actual problem a little

Answer 3

60 million years

Answer 4

how are you guys getting 60 million?

Answer 5

the gene having minimum rate of mutation should be used. is that he want say

Answer 6

10 million * 6 mutations

Answer 7

Multiply the number of mutations by the rate at which mutations occur to get the number of years since the species diverged. So 6 times 10 million = 60 million.

Answer 8

Anyone who sees this, 60 Million was wrong.

Answer 9

the answer is 30 million btw