Final answer:
The tree of life concept is supported by several factors, including the fact that all living organisms are made of cells, DNA is used as the hereditary material, living things evolve, and the Earth is old.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tree of life illustrates the concept that all living things have a common ancestor. This is supported by several factors:
- All living organisms are made of cells: Cells are the basic building blocks of life and all living organisms are composed of cells. This common cellular structure across different organisms suggests a shared ancestry.
- DNA is used as the hereditary material: All cells contain DNA, which is passed on from parent cells to daughter cells. This genetic material carries information that determines the traits of an organism and is also inherited from a common ancestor.
- Living things evolve: The theory of evolution states that living organisms change over time through the process of natural selection. This process leads to the diversification of species and the formation of new traits. The fact that living things evolve points to a common origin.
- Earth is old: The age of the Earth, as estimated by scientists, provides evidence that life on Earth has had enough time to evolve and diversify into the wide array of species we see today.
Together, these pieces of evidence support the idea of a common ancestry for all living things.