A scientist discovers a fossil of an animal and places it in the fossil record. The organism’s bones are similar to the bones of animal T, which appears earlier in the fossil record. Which conclusion is most reasonable?(1 point)

Question

Responses

The fossils are from an ancestor of animal T.
The fossils are from an ancestor of animal T.

The fossils are from animals that lived at the same time.
The fossils are from animals that lived at the same time.

The fossils are from a descendant of animal T.
The fossils are from a descendant of animal T.

The fossils came from the same organism.

Answer 1

The most reasonable conclusion is:

The fossils are from a descendant of animal T.

This inference is based on the fact that the newly discovered fossils have similar bones to animal T, which suggests a relationship where the new organism may have evolved from it, given that it appears later in the fossil record.