The molecular data indicate that the globin gene family __________.

• A. has two distinct evolutionary lineages, originating from an ancestral alpha-globin gene and an ancestral beta-globin gene
• B. arose through convergent evolution, where genes of different ancestry become similar over time because they have the same function
• C. evolved from a common ancestor of the alpha- and beta-globin genes but that myoglobin and leghemoglobin arose from a different ancestor
• D. evolved through exon duplication
• E. evolved from a common globin gene ancestor that gave rise to both alpha- and beta-globin genes as well as myoglobin and plant leghemoglobin

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of gene families: Gene families are groups of related genes that have similar sequences and often similar functions. They arise through processes such as gene duplication and divergence.
2. Recognize the role of evolutionary lineages: In the context of the globin gene family, evolutionary lineages refer to the distinct paths that different globin genes have taken from a common ancestor.
3. Identify the common ancestor: The globin gene family is believed to have evolved from a single ancestral globin gene. This common ancestor gave rise to various globin genes, including alpha-globin, beta-globin, myoglobin, and leghemoglobin.
4. Differentiate between convergent evolution and common ancestry: Convergent evolution involves unrelated genes evolving similar traits independently, whereas common ancestry involves genes diverging from a shared ancestor. The globin gene family evolved from a common ancestor, not through convergent evolution.
5. Consider the evolutionary process: The evolution of the globin gene family involved gene duplication and divergence from a common ancestor, leading to the development of different globin genes with specialized functions in different organisms.