Q5 Humans carry a variety of nonfunctional genetic sequences

Q5. Humans carry a variety of non-functional genetic sequences, called processed pseudogenes, in their DNA. We can estimate how long ago these sequences first appeared in the genomes of our ancestors. In humans, processed pseudogenes include the three options below. Which of these would be least widespread among other primate species?

Solution

The three human processed pseudogenes are alpha-enolase psi1 (11 million years old), AS psi7 (16 million years old), and CALM II psi3 (36 88 million years old). The least widespread among other primate species would be the oldest one, i.e.  CALM II psi3 (36 88 million years old).