Question
The image shows part of the humerus bone in different genera of primates . Which statement i best supported by the observable structures of the different humerus bones? The primates interbreed with similar organisms in a population. The primates ; lived in similar environments. The primates share a common ancestor. The primates had diets that consisted of similar types of food.
Answer
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Quentin
Expert · Tutor for 3 years
Answer
To answer the question, we need to analyze the information provided and apply our understanding of evolutionary biology.Step 1: Understand the contextThe humerus is a bone in the arm that connects the shoulder to the elbow. In the context of primates, variations in the humerus can indicate different adaptations that may have evolved over time.Step 2: Analyze the optionsWe have four statements to consider, and we need to determine which one is best supported by the observable structures of the different humerus bones.Option A: The primates interbreed with similar organisms in a population.- This statement is about breeding behavior, which cannot be directly inferred from bone structure alone.Option B: The primates lived in similar environments.- While bone structure can give clues about the environment an animal lived in (e.g., arboreal vs. terrestrial), it is not specific enough to support this statement without additional context.Option C: The primates share a common ancestor.- Similarities in bone structure across different genera of primates could indicate a common evolutionary origin. This is a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology known as homology, where similar anatomical features are inherited from a common ancestor.Option D: The primates had diets that consisted of similar types of food.- The humerus bone is not directly involved in feeding and thus would not provide specific evidence about diet. Diet is better inferred from teeth and jaw structures.Step 3: Extract the final answerBased on the analysis, the statement best supported by the observable structures of the different humerus bones is:The primates share a common ancestor.This is because the humerus bones, being part of the skeletal system, can show morphological similarities that suggest a common evolutionary heritage. These similarities are often used as evidence for common ancestry in the study of evolutionary biology.