Question

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)
Responses

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

The fossils are from a descendant of animal T.
The fossils are from a descendant 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 came from the same organism.

Answer 1

The fossils are from a descendant of animal T.

Rationale: Because animal T appears earlier in the fossil record and the new fossil is later but similar, the most reasonable inference is that the later organism descended from (or is closely related to a descendant of) T.