Question

To use molecular data to reconstruct evolutionary history requires making a number of reasonable assumptions. Which of the following is incorrect about it?

(a) The molecular sequences used in phylogenetic construction are homologous

(b) The molecular sequences used in phylogenetic construction share a common origin

(c) Phylogenetic divergence cannot be bifurcating

(d) Parent branch splits into two daughter branches at any given point

I had been asked this question by my college director while I was bunking the class.

My question is taken from Phylogenetics Basics topic in portion Molecular Phylogenetics of Bioinformatics

Answer 1

Right choice is (c) Phylogenetic divergence cannot be bifurcating

Explanation: Here, option “Phylogenetic divergence cannot be bifurcating” and “Parent branch splits into two daughter branches at any given point” contradict. Another assumption in phylogenetics is that each position in a sequence evolved independently. The variability among sequences is sufficiently informative for constructing unambiguous phylogenetic trees.