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$63$

Multiple Choice

$2$ points

You are analyzing the genome of the human gut bacterium Lactococcus reuteri and comparing it to the genome of another gut bacterium, Escherichia coli. Although the overall genome sequence similarity is very low, you identify several genes that are nearly identical in the two bacteria. What is the most likely explanation for this'result?

$59$

Multiple independent mutation events made the genes similar by chance

The genes moved between the two bacteria by lateral $($horizontal$)$ gene transfer

$60$

L$.$ reuteriis the ancestor of E$.$ coli

$61$

E$.$ coli is the ancestor of $L.$ reuteri

L$.$ reuteri and E$.$ coli are actually the same species