For decades, scientists relied on the fossil record and comparative anatomy to assemble evolutionary lineages.

Question

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.