Chapter 21.4, Problem 1CC

Summary Introduction

To analyze: The pair of species that have fewer genetic differences is orangutans and gorillas or gorillas and humans.

Introduction:

In evolution, according to the concept of a molecular clock, neutral mutations accumulate at a relatively constant rate over evolutionary time. When comparing homologous genes between species, those species that diverge more recently tend to have fewer genetic differences than do those common ancestors that occurred in the distant past.