What is Most Likely If Genes from Different Species Are

Question

What is most likely if genes from different species are determined to be homologous?
A)The genes descended from a common ancestor.
B)Homology is observed because of convergent evolution.
C)The homology is a result of chance mutations.
D)Homology is found in gene structure but the function of the gene products will be different.
E)The species being compared will also have a similar genome size and structure.

Accepted Answer

If genes from different species are determined to be homologous, it is most likely that they descended from a common ancestor. This is because homologous genes share a similar structure and function, which is inherited from their ancestors. Convergent evolution may also result in similar genes but not homologous ones. The homology is not a result of chance mutations, but it is due to shared ancestry. The function of the gene products may be different in different species, but the structure will be similar. The genome size and structure of the compared species may or may not be similar.