Paleontologists have recovered a fossil for an organisms named Archaeopteryx. It has many features in common with reptiles, but, like birds, shows evidence of feathers. For what aspect of evolutionary theory does this piece of evidence suggest support? A) Modern species are distinct natural entities. B) Modern species are not currently evolving. C) Modern species share a common ancestor. D) Modern species have both convergent and divergent traits.

Question

Allyson Lang

Biology

9 July, 19:45

Paleontologists have recovered a fossil for an organisms named Archaeopteryx. It has many features in common with reptiles, but, like birds, shows evidence of feathers. For what aspect of evolutionary theory does this piece of evidence suggest support? A) Modern species are distinct natural entities. B) Modern species are not currently evolving. C) Modern species share a common ancestor. D) Modern species have both convergent and divergent traits.

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Cason Solomon · Answer 1

C) Modern species share a common ancestor

Explanation:

The present-day species are supposed to have evolved as descent with modification from a common ancestor. The descendants of common ancestors diversified into several directions to occupy the available ecological niche and to make themselves adapted to the different habitats. Accumulation of adaptive traits in these groups of organisms led to the evolution of different species.

Different groups of birds have evolved by divergent evolution in the descendants of common reptilian ancestors. Connecting links such as Archaeopteryx that share features from two different groups of organisms reflect the fact that the existing species that differ from each other significantly might have shared a common ancestor during their course of evolution.