Which of the following conditions would increase the accuracy of a molecular clock?

Choose one or more:

A. The genes encode resistance to antibiotics.

B. The gene sequences are orthologous (have the same function).

C. The organisms have similar generation times.

D. The genes are carried on plasmids

E. Average mutation rates are constant across generations and between organisms.

F. The "clock"genes are highly mobile between species.

Answer: A. The genes encode resistance to antibiotics.

D. The genes are carried on plasmids

F. The "clock"genes are highly mobile between species.

Explanation:

Molecular clock is a tool that is used to calculate the time of the evolutionary events. These are the gene sequences that are used to determine the evolutionary distance between the new and primitive organisms developed on earth. It also measures the random changes just like mutation. Thus the molecular clock is also called as the gene clock or evolutionary clock.

The accuracy of the molecular clock can be increased by the genes that encode for a resistance against the antibiotics, the genes that are carried on the plasmids and the clock genes which are highly mobile among the species.