Final answer:
A cathedral or mountain would propagate echoes, whereas an anechoic chamber would not. Genetic and archaeological evidence supports that modern humans and Neanderthals shared a common ancestor and interbred, especially early humans who emerged from Africa and then dispersed globally.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage suggests that echoes would propagate in a cathedral or off a mountain, not in an anechoic chamber which is designed to absorb sound. Regarding human evolution, DNA evidence and genetic studies, including those of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), support the claim that modern humans and Neanderthals shared a common ancestor.
Further, genetic data indicates that modern European and Middle Eastern populations have Neanderthal DNA to the extent of 1-4%, implying that interbreeding was not uncommon. This is further corroborated by archaeological findings and studies.
For example, the analysis of ancient DNA has revealed insights into human migration patterns and interbreeding between different hominid species. An example is the bone found in Siberia of a girl with a Denisovan father and Neanderthal mother. Additionally, genetic data shows that the rise of agriculture and coevolution of species like lice can inform us about human evolutionary history.
Therefore, Claim c, asserting that early humans emerged from Africa, interbred with Neanderthals, and then spread across the globe, aligns with the scientific consensus informed by genetic and archaeological evidence.