Question

Given the evolutionary relationship between higher primates shown in Figure Q9-28, which of the following statements is false?(a) The last common ancestor of humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans lived about 14 million years ago.

(b) Chimpanzees are more closely related to gorillas than to humans.
(c) Humans and chimpanzees diverged about 6 million years ago.
(d) Orangutans are the most divergent of the four species shown in Figure Q9-28.

Answer 1

The false statement is that chimpanzees are more closely related to gorillas than to humans.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the evolutionary relationships between higher primates, the statement that is false is (b) Chimpanzees are more closely related to gorillas than to humans. This is because humans and chimpanzees share a more recent common ancestor, having diverged from this ancestor approximately 6 million years ago.

In contrast, the last common ancestor of humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans lived about 14 million years ago, making orangutans the most divergent of the four species represented. It is well-established that humans and chimpanzees are more closely related to each other than to gorillas or orangutans.