Question

Use words from the word bank to fill in the blanks in the sentences below.

Species inherit _______________________ from _______________________. If two living species have some of the same _______________________, this means that they are probably _______________________ of _______________________ that also had those _______________________.

Word Bank
body structures
ancestors
descendants
a common ancestor population

Answer 1

Species inherit body structures from ancestors, and the presence of similar structures in different species suggests they are descendants of a common ancestor.

Step-by-step explanation:

Species inherit body structures from ancestors. If two living species have some of the same body structures, this means that they are probably descendants of a common ancestor population that also had those body structures. This concept is underpinned by the term descent with modification, where organisms evolve from common ancestors and diversify over time. Scientists compare physical features and genetic codes to determine the relationships between species, with homologous structures serving as evidence of a shared ancestry. The similarity in DNA between closely related organisms leads to shared characteristics and behaviors which promote successful reproduction within a species.