Most people develop wisdom teeth by early adulthood. Wisdom teeth can cause pain or crowd out their other teeth, so many people have these teeth removed. Wisdom teeth in modern humans do not perform a crucial life function.

Which statement best describes the importance of wisdom teeth to human evolution?

(1 point)
Responses

They are evidence that humans have never evolved.
They are evidence that humans have never evolved.

They are evidence that humans cannot evolve.
They are evidence that humans cannot evolve.

They are vestigial structures that once performed an important function for human ancestors.
They are vestigial structures that once performed an important function for human ancestors.

They are vestigial structures that never performed a necessary function for human ancestors.

3 answers

The statement that best describes the importance of wisdom teeth to human evolution is:

They are vestigial structures that once performed an important function for human ancestors.

This is because wisdom teeth were likely useful for our ancestors who had a diet that required more chewing power. As human diets and jaw sizes have changed, the function of wisdom teeth has diminished, making them vestigial in modern humans.

Which statement is true?(1 point)
Responses

Imprints of leaves or footprints in sedimentary rock are fossils.
Imprints of leaves or footprints in sedimentary rock are fossils.

Recent remains of plants or animals on topsoil are fossils.
Recent remains of plants or animals on topsoil are fossils.

Petrified skeletal bones from an ancient mammal are not fossils.
Petrified skeletal bones from an ancient mammal are not fossils.

Insects preserved in hardened tree sap are not fossils.

The true statement is:

Imprints of leaves or footprints in sedimentary rock are fossils.

Fossils can include imprints, molds, and casts, as well as preserved remains, which makes this statement accurate. The other statements are incorrect because they either misdefine what constitutes a fossil or incorrectly classify certain remains.