A researcher compares several species of maple tree by examining the amino acid sequence of a protein. The researcher discovers that the amino acid sequence differs in three locations depending on the species of tree. What can the researcher conclude based on this data?
Maple trees are evolving rapidly.
The different species have different morphological characteristics.
The maple trees have been exposed to high levels of mutagens.
The genetic makeup of the maple tree population has changed over time.
(1 point)