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 came from the same organism.
The fossils came from the same organism.

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 are from an ancestor of animal T.

Answer 1

The most reasonable conclusion is:

The fossils are from a descendant of animal T.

This conclusion follows the principle of evolutionary biology, which suggests that organisms evolve over time, and similarities in bone structure indicate a common ancestry. Since the newly discovered fossil appears after animal T in the fossil record, it is likely to be a descendant of animal T.