How do researchers check the accuracy of molecular clocks?
Scientists use a molecular clock as a tool to calculate how long it will take two species to evolve independently based on the variations in their DNA. This method is used by researchers to determine the approximate number of genetic mutations that take place between two closely related species and the average genetic mutation rate to determine when the two species split in prehistory.
It utilises a Molecular Clock, a novel kind of clock. The molecular clock tracks the steady pace of change in an organism's genome (DNA or protein sequences of a particular gene) through time as opposed to seconds, minutes, and hours. Animals, plants, fungi, and viruses are just a few of the many species of life that change at a consistent rate. Scientists can then construct phylogenetic trees portraying an ancient species that has developed or diverged from another by measuring these changes.
How do molecular clocks help researchers in evolutionary studies?
Molecular clocks assist researchers in estimating the time when two species split and the number of genetic mutations that occurred during their evolution. By analyzing DNA variations, scientists can determine the rate of genetic change and construct evolutionary timelines.