Which of the following statements are true about common ancestors? Check all of the boxes that apply.

Question

A common ancestor exists when two species are derived from the same ancestral species.

Common ancestors only exist within a single species.

When two organisms share a common ancestor it means that they are related to some degree.

The more common ancestors two species share, the more closely they are related.

Common ancestors show evidence for evolution because they show that all life is related.

Answer 1

Based on the statements you provided about common ancestors, here are the evaluations:

1. A common ancestor exists when two species are derived from the same ancestral species. - True
   This statement accurately reflects the definition of a common ancestor.

2. Common ancestors only exist within a single species. - False
   Common ancestors can exist between different species, as they can have a shared ancestral lineage.

3. When two organisms share a common ancestor it means that they are related to some degree. - True
   Sharing a common ancestor indicates a degree of evolutionary relatedness between the two organisms.

4. The more common ancestors two species share, the more closely they are related. - True
   Generally, the more recent the common ancestor and the more shared ancestors two species have, the more closely related they are.

5. Common ancestors show evidence for evolution because they show that all life is related. - True
   The concept of common ancestry supports the theory of evolution, illustrating that all life shares a common lineage.

Based on this assessment, the true statements are:

• A common ancestor exists when two species are derived from the same ancestral species.
• When two organisms share a common ancestor it means that they are related to some degree.
• The more common ancestors two species share, the more closely they are related.
• Common ancestors show evidence for evolution because they show that all life is related.