Question

1.) Mitochondrial DNA traces

A. the maternal lineage

B. the paternal lineage

C. Both

2.) Analysis of the Y chromosome can be used to trace

A. the maternal lineage

B. the paternal lineage

C. Both

3.) The ancestral mitochondrial DNA sequence theoretically represents

A. the first man

B. the first women

C. the first human

4.) Hominins are ancestral to

A. humans only

B. humans and apes

C. humans, apes, and gibbons

D. apes and gibbons

5.) In the evolutionary history of the earth, Homo sapiens probably first appeared approximately _____ years ago.

A. 200,000

B. 2,000

C. 20,000

D. 2,000,000

Answer 1

1.) the right option is A. Maternal line traces the maternal lineage because of simple dilution. As mother egg contains around 200,000 mtDNA molecules on average while the sperm contains only about 5 molecules on average. This there is degradation of sperm mtDNA in the male genital tract and fertilized egg. So mitochondria are usually inherited from mother.

2.)the answer is B option as male have only one Y chromosome and one X chromosome so it passes form father to son only (Y chromosome).

3.)B is the right option as mitochondrial DNA passes form mother to the offspring.

4.)right option is A. Hominins are the ancestor to humans only. As common ancestor of gorilla are hominidae and common ancestor of human apes and gibbons are hominoidae

5.)A is the right option.The earliest finds of modern homo sapiens came from east Africa around 2 million years ago