Molecular Clocks

Molecular clocks serve as fundamental tools in molecular biology and evolutionary studies, offering insights into the timing of genetic divergence and evolutionary events. These clocks rely on the regular accumulation of mutations in DNA sequences over time, providing a means to estimate the timing of evolutionary divergences and the rate of molecular evolution. By comparing genetic differences among species or populations, scientists can reconstruct evolutionary histories and understand the tempo and pattern of evolutionary change. Molecular clocks play a pivotal role in elucidating the evolutionary relationships among organisms and deciphering the timing of key evolutionary events.