Question
Common descent lated to fossils describes how a group of organisms share a most recent common ancestor organisms of the same species No common ancestor
Answer
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Ian
Master · Tutor for 5 years
Answer
Common descent refers to the principle that all organisms are connected through evolution to a common ancestor, and this relationship is evidenced by genetic similarities and the fossil record. The first column of the table directly relates to this concept, indicating a shared most recent common ancestor among a group of organisms.
Explanation
The term "common descent" in biology refers to the concept that all living organisms on Earth are related and descend from a common ancestor. This is a fundamental principle of evolutionary biology, which suggests that through the process of evolution, species diverge and give rise to new species, but they still retain a genetic connection to their ancestors. The concept of common descent explains the similarities we observe across different organisms, which are due to inherited traits from their common ancestors.The table provided seems to be comparing three different concepts related to common descent:1. The first column describes how a group of organisms share a most recent common ancestor. This is directly related to the concept of common descent, where organisms within a particular group (such as a species or a genus) have a recent ancestor from which they have all evolved.2. The second column mentions organisms of the same fossils. This could be referring to fossil records that show organisms from the same time period or geological strata, which may or may not be directly related. Fossils provide evidence for common descent by showing how organisms have changed over time.3. The third column states "No common ancestor." This would be a situation where two or more organisms do not share a recent common ancestor, indicating that they are from different branches of the evolutionary tree or are very distantly related.