Question

The geneticists studying the alien organisms have deciphered their genetic code. For familiarity, they have used A, C, G, and T to indicate the bases in this code.

A comparable genetic sequence in each alien has been identified in the genes that code for eye growth. This genetic sequence has allowed the aliens to bedivided into six groups, with the single-tail, three-eye group split in half. The geneticists also studied several outgroup species (not shown) to compile alikely ancestral DNA sequence. From this information, they have constructed four possible phylogenetic trees.

site	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
ancestral	T	C	A	C	T	G	C	A	T
group 1	T	C	C	C	T	G	C	A	T
group 2a	T	G	A	C	T	A	C	A	T
group 2b	T	G	A	G	A	G	G	G	C
group 3	T	G	A	C	A	G	C	G	C
group 4	C	G	A	C	T	G	T	G	C
group 5	C	G	A	C	T	G	T	G	C

Based on this genetic information, which phylogenetic tree is most parsimonious?Select the most parsimonious tree. If there is a tie, select both trees.

phylogenetic tree I phylogenetic tree II phylogenetic tree III phylogenetic tree IV

Answer 1

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