Question

Which pair of lizards have the greatest number of noncoding DNA differences between them?

• A. Aprasia and Ophidiocephalus
• B. Pygopus and Ophidiocephalus
• C. Lialis and Aprasia
• D. Pygopus and Pletholax
• E. Lialis and Delma

Answer 1

The correct option is E Lialis and Delma

Differences in noncoding DNA do not affect phenotype and are accumulated in gene pool at a constant rate over time. The two groups that have evolved independently from each other for longer would exhibit more noncoding differences between them. In the given tree, genera Lialis and Delma are shown to be diverged from a common ancestor longest back in time and therefore would exhibit the greatest number of DNA differences among them. Thus, the correct answer is option E.