What makes mitochondrial DNA useful as a molecular clock?

It is only found in select organisms, making it easier to compare relationships between species that have it.

A large portion of the DNA ring is not vital to structure or function, allowing it to accumulate neutral mutations.

Its rate of mutation increases over time as organisms continue to evolve and differentiate from each other.

A slow mutation rate makes it useful for determining evolutionary relationships between ancient species.

Question

What makes mitochondrial DNA useful as a molecular clock?

It is only found in select organisms, making it easier to compare relationships between species that have it.

A large portion of the DNA ring is not vital to structure or function, allowing it to accumulate neutral mutations.

Its rate of mutation increases over time as organisms continue to evolve and differentiate from each other.

A slow mutation rate makes it useful for determining evolutionary relationships between ancient species.

anonymous · Answer

A slow mutation rate makes it useful for determining evolutionary relationships between ancient species.

anonymous · Answer

Mitochondrial DNA stay almost identical over species and only varies ever so slightly. By comparing mitochondrial DNA over species you are able to see how closely related they are and how long it might have taken for the species to evolve.