The table compares some of the amino acids present in a particular protein in different primates.
Using these data and your knowledge of the characteristics of primate groups, explain why using different types of data improves the reliability of estimated evolutionary relationships. (5 marks)
→ The amino acid data set shows that chimpanzees and humans have identical amino acids in this protein.
→ Gorillas show one amino acid difference, new world monkeys show three amino acid differences and prosimians show four amino acid differences.
→ On the basis of this data, it can be assessed that chimpanzees and humans are identical, followed by gorillas then new world monkeys and then prosimians.
→ The morphological characteristics outlined in the table would rank the organisms in evolutionary proximity as chimpanzees most closely related to humans but different species, followed by gorillas then new world monkeys and then prosimians.
→ Both data sets correlate and therefore the estimates of evolutionary proximity to humans can be considered to be more reliable.