When it was first classified by biologists, the elephant shrew was placed with the bicolored shrew in a cladogram. Since then, additional evidence has been found that caused scientists to remove the elephant shrew from the shrew group and place it in a new position in a cladogram. In the new position, the elephant shrew is now closer to elephants than to shrews. What evidence would have been strong enough to support this change?
A. mating experiments
B. homologous structures
C. body fossils
D. DNA sequences
D?
Yes, the evidence that would have been strong enough to support the change in the position of the elephant shrew in the cladogram would be DNA sequences. DNA sequences can provide valuable information about the evolutionary relationships between different organisms. By comparing the DNA sequences of the elephant shrew, shrews, and elephants, scientists could determine the level of genetic similarity between them and place the elephant shrew in a new position based on those similarities.
Correct! The evidence that would have been strong enough to support the change in the classification of the elephant shrew is DNA sequences.
DNA sequences provide a valuable tool for understanding the evolutionary relationships between different organisms. By comparing the DNA sequences of different species, scientists can determine how closely related they are and reconstruct their evolutionary history.
If scientists found that the DNA sequences of the elephant shrew were more similar to those of elephants than to shrews, it would suggest a closer evolutionary relationship between elephants and elephant shrews. This would be significant evidence for reclassifying the elephant shrew and placing it in a new position in the cladogram, closer to elephants.