Question

In recent years sequencing of mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome were considered for the study of human evolution because

• A. they are small and therefore easy to study
• B. they are uniparental in origin and do not take part in recombination
• C. their structure is known in greater detail
• D. they can be studied from the sample of fossil remains

Answer 1

The correct option is B they are uniparental in origin and do not take part in recombination

It is proven that more similar the genetic material, more closely are the two organisms related. Variation in the genetic material arises because of mutations and recombination (crossing over) but mitochondria and Y chromosome show uniparental inheritance. Mitochondria are maternal in inheritance while the Y chromosome is paternal.

These two exempted themselves from crossing over preventing recombination. This insulation from recombination makes mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) and the Y chromosome to be used extensively by molecular paleoanthropologists in attempts to reconstruct human lineages.