Question

For decades, scientists relied on the fossil record and comparative anatomy to assemble evolutionary lineages.
Which statement describes a limitation of these methods?
(1 point)
• They can show false relationships between organisms that are not reflected in the DNA.
• They are no longer relevant because the fossil record is complete.
• They cannot be used to determine when species evolved.
• They are not reliable evidence of how the body structures of organisms evolved

Answer 1

The statement that best describes a limitation of using the fossil record and comparative anatomy to assemble evolutionary lineages is:

**"They cannot be used to determine when species evolved."**

While the fossil record can provide information about the existence of different species at various times, it does not always give precise dates for when species diverged from a common ancestor. Comparative anatomy can reveal relationships and similarities but does not provide a timeline for the evolution of species.