Question

which statement about traits and phylogeny is true? group of answer choices all similar traits are evidence of relatedness. homologous traits can arise through evolution from a common ancestor and through convergent evolution. all shared traits are synapomorphies. some traits can appear to have different origins but evolved from a common ancestor through evolutionary reversal. all synapomorphies can be classified as either ancestral or derived traits, depending on the point of reference.

Answer 1

The true statement regarding traits and phylogeny is that homologous traits can arise through evolution from a common ancestor, as well as through convergent evolution.

Not all similar traits indicate relatedness due to the phenomenon of analogous traits and evolutionary reversal.

Therefore, the correct answer is: option "homologous traits can arise through evolution from a common ancestor and through convergent evolution".

Step-by-step explanation:

In biology, phylogenetics is the study of the evolutionary history and relationships among or within groups of organisms.

In the context of phylogeny, the statement that is true is that homologous traits can arise through evolution from a common ancestor and through convergent evolution. Not all similar traits imply relatedness, as there are cases of convergent evolution where analogous traits evolve independently in different lineages.

All shared traits are not necessarily synapomorphies, because some shared traits can be ancestral traits common to all members of the group. Additionally, some traits may seem to originate independently but are actually the product of evolutionary reversal, where a trait reverts back to an ancestral state.

Most importantly, synapomorphies which are traits shared by a group of species due to common ancestry, can be classified as either ancestral or derived depending on the line of descent being examined and the reference point.