The Fascinating Concept of Molecular Clock in Evolutionary Biology

A molecular clock is a key concept in evolutionary biology that helps scientists estimate the timing of important evolutionary events. It relies on the repeating process of mutations in DNA sequences to determine how long it has been since related species diverged from a common ancestor.

The molecular clock works on the assumption that mutations accumulate at a relatively constant rate over time in a specific region of DNA. By comparing the differences in DNA sequences between different species, scientists can calculate the amount of time that has passed since these species split from a common ancestor.

This allows researchers to construct evolutionary timelines, track the divergence of species, and gain insights into the evolutionary relationships between different organisms. The molecular clock has revolutionized our understanding of evolutionary history by providing a quantitative framework for studying the timing of evolutionary events.