A) the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
B) molecular clock analyses
C) "shotgun" rRNA sequencing from environmental samples
D) Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction
E) whole-genome phylogenetic analysis

A) joining pyrimidines to simple sugars
B) catalyzing the polymerization of activated nucleotides
C) breaking down biomolecules to release energy
D) activating nucleotides by adding phosphate groups
E) forming microscopic spheres from short polymers of amino acids

A) No, because such a population would not be contained inside a cell.
B) Yes, because such a population would show variation, inheritance, and selection.
C) No, because RNA molecules are not subject to selection.
D) Yes, because RNAs code for proteins that can then replicate the RNAs.
E) No, because ribonucleotides are not suited for energy transfer functions.