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In phylogeny, why does it matter that the Arctic wolf gene is somewhat similar to the polar bear gene, even though they are different genes?

Answer :

The similarity between Arctic wolf and polar bear genes in phylogeny highlights potential shared ancestry and is crucial for building accurate phylogenetic trees. Homologous characteristics must be distinguished from analogous ones to avoid inferring incorrect relationships.

Even though they have different genes, the shared sequences can indicate a common ancestor at some point in their evolutionary past. In phylogenetic systematics, constructing phylogenetic trees relies on identifying such shared genes (homologous genes) and computing the sequence similarities to infer evolutionary relationships.

Distinguishing between homologous and analogous characteristics is crucial when building phylogenetic trees because homologous characteristics are derived from a common ancestor, whereas analogous characteristics arise due to convergent evolution and do not imply a close evolutionary relationship. Moreover, molecular trees that utilize DNA and protein sequences can encompass evolutionary changes over both short and long periods due to the different evolutionary rates of genes within the same lineage.

Understanding why certain traits, such as the white fur of polar bears, evolved as adaptations to an Arctic biome requires looking at the genetic and evolutionary mechanisms that favor these traits. Similarly, discerning why certain species, like cats and dogs, are grouped together at a specific taxonomic level demands current genetic analysis that may sometimes lead to updates in phylogenetic classifications.

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