The data table shown below compares a small portion of the DNA for the same gene in three animals—a mouse, a whale, and a chicken. Use the data table to answer the question: Is a mouse more closely related to a baleen whale or a chicken? How do you know?

(1 point)
Responses

A mouse is more closely related to a baleen whale because they are both gray.
A mouse is more closely related to a baleen whale because they are both gray.

A mouse is more closely related to a chicken because they are both land animals.
A mouse is more closely related to a chicken because they are both land animals.

A mouse is more closely related to a chicken because they only share 8 nucleotide differences.
A mouse is more closely related to a chicken because they only share 8 nucleotide differences.

A mouse is more closely related to a baleen whale because they only share 4 nucleotide differences.

1 answer

A mouse is more closely related to a baleen whale because they only share 4 nucleotide differences. This indicates a closer genetic relationship between the mouse and the whale compared to the chicken.