Carl woese and collaborators identified two major branches of prokaryotic evolution. what was the basis for dividing prokaryotes into two domains? a) ecological characteristics such as the ability to survive in extreme environments b) metabolic characteristics such as chemoautotrophy and photosynthesis c) microscopic examination of staining characteristics of the cell wall d) genetic characteristics such as ribosomal rna sequences e) metabolic characteristics such as the production of methane gas

d) genetic characteristics such as ribosomal RNA sequences

Explanation:

Carl Woese and his collaborators identified two major branches of prokaryotic evolution which are bacteria and archaea. They used 16S rRNA sequencing to study the similarities and differences between archaea and bacteria.

After sequencing the complete genome structure of Methanococcus jannaschii in 1966 which is an archaea they concluded that bacteria are more closely related than humans than bacteria.  

After many years Carl Woese gave the three-domain system which divides prokaryotes into archaea and bacteria according to differences in their rRNA sequencing. Eukarya was the third domain. So the correct answer is d.