Concept explainers
DNA is not the only molecule that is used to test for evolutionary relationships among organisms. Proteins can also be used, and the sequences of their building blocks (called amino acids) can be compared in much the same way that DNA sequences are compared. Cytochrome c is a protein found in nearly all living organisms; it functions in the transformation of energy within cells. The percentage difference in amino acid sequence between humans and other organisms can be summarized as follows:
Draw the evolutionary tree implied by these data that illustrates the relationship between humans and the other organisms listed.
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