Question
The diagram shows the skeletal structures for the flipper of a whale and the forearm of a human. What explains the similarity in the skeletal structures of the two different organisms? B Humans have evolved from whales. Whales have evolved from humans. Humans lived in the sea in the past. Whales and humans share a common ancestry.
Answer
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Wilhelmina
Master · Tutor for 5 years
Answer
The correct explanation for the similarity in the skeletal structures of the flipper of a whale and the forearm of a human is:Whales and humans share a common ancestry.Step 1: Understand that the skeletal structures of different organisms can be similar due to common ancestry, which is a concept known as homology.Step 2: Recognize that both whales and humans are mammals, which suggests they may share a common ancestor.Step 3: Note that the presence of similar structures (like the bones in the flipper and forearm) does not imply that one evolved from the other directly, but rather that they have evolved from a common ancestor that had a similar structure.Step 4: Dismiss the other options as they are not supported by evolutionary theory or evidence:- Humans have not evolved from whales.- Whales have not evolved from humans.- There is no evidence to suggest that humans lived in the sea in the past.Final Answer: The similarity in the skeletal structures of the flipper of a whale and the forearm of a human is explained by the fact that whales and humans share a common ancestry.