Question

Which of the following statements best represents a piece of evidence for evolution?

"1.Scientists believe human arms and whale flippers were inherited from a common ancestor. ---

2.The tailbone of a human is a structure that serves no practical purpose.

3.Hawk wings and grasshopper wings allow for sustained flight, but these structures evolved separately.

4. Humans can have their appendixes removed with few, if any harmful effects."

Answer 1

The best evidence for evolution is represented by homologous structures, such as human arms and whale flippers, inherited from a common ancestor. These structures, along with vestigial organs, signify evolutionary changes from a shared origin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that best represents a piece of evidence for evolution is: Scientists believe human arms and whale flippers were inherited from a common ancestor. This is an example of homologous structures, which are anatomical signs of descent from a common ancestor.

Homologous structures like the bones in the appendages of humans, dogs, birds, and whales have similar overall construction despite different uses. This similarity points to an evolutionary past where these different species diverged from a common origin. Over time, natural selection led to adaptations in these structures to meet the species’ survival needs, resulting in various forms and functions from the same ancestral blueprint.

Vestigial structures, such as the human tailbone or whales' pelvic bones, also support the theory of evolution. They serve as evolutionary relics that had functions in ancestral organisms but are now obsolete or repurposed in modern organisms. Thus, homologous and vestigial structures provide evidence for the shared evolutionary history of different species.