Final answer:
The correct answer is option c, where the development of oxygenic photosynthesis produced oxygen as a waste product, leading to the accumulation of oxygen in the atmosphere and the subsequent evolution of aerobic respiration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The evolution of photosynthesis notably set the stage for the evolution of aerobic respiration. Initially, anoxygenic photosynthesis occurred, using substances like hydrogen sulfide instead of water, meaning oxygen was not produced as a byproduct. The advent of oxygenic photosynthesis, which used water as the source of electrons and hydrogen atoms, led to the release of free oxygen into the atmosphere. Eventually, this oxygen accumulation led to organisms developing aerobic respiration, as it was a more efficient method to extract energy from organic molecules using the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.
The historical sequence of metabolic pathway evolution thus began with anoxygenic photosynthesis followed by glycolysis, and later the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis that paved the way for aerobic respiration. Hence, the correct answer to the evolution connection passage based on the provided information is: c. Photosynthesis produces a waste product (oxygen) that led to the evolution of aerobic respiration.