Question

Imagine you are a paleontologist trying to find the “missing link” between different species. In three to five sentences, create a fictional narrative about your discoveries, describing: 1) what two species, mythical or real, you are studying, 2) what evidence you have linking these species, and 3) what evidence you have to define different correlations and causations that support your hypothesis.(4 points)

Answer 1

A fictional narrative about a paleontologist trying to find the "missing link" between different species:

I am a paleontologist trying to find the "missing link" between humans and apes. I have been studying fossils for many years, and I have found some evidence that suggests that humans and apes may have shared a common ancestor.

For example, I have found fossils of apes with features that are similar to those of humans, such as opposable thumbs and bipedalism. I believe that this evidence supports my hypothesis that humans and apes may have evolved from a common ancestor.

Here is a more detailed explanation of the evidence that I have found:

• Opposable thumbs: Humans and apes are the only primates that have opposable thumbs. This means that we can use our thumbs to grasp objects, which is essential for tool use.
• Bipedalism: Humans and apes are the only primates that walk upright on two legs. This is a major adaptation that has allowed us to free up our hands for other tasks, such as tool use and carrying objects.
• Similar DNA: Humans and apes share about 98% of their DNA. This suggests that we may have shared a common ancestor in the not-too-distant past.

I believe that this evidence is strong enough to support my hypothesis that humans and apes may have evolved from a common ancestor. However, more research is needed to confirm this hypothesis.