similarities+of+ancestors

Some organisms, such as a chimpanzee and a human, have many similarities. Others, such as a chicken and an oak tree, have fewer similarities. What is TRUE about the ancestors of these organisms?

A. Chimpanzees and humans share a common ancestor with each other, but chickens and oak trees do not share a common ancestor with each other.

B. Chimpanzees and humans share a common ancestor with each other, and chickens and oak trees share a common ancestor with each other, but chimpanzees and humans do not share a common ancestor with chickens and oak trees.

C. Because chimpanzees, humans, chickens, and oak trees are separate species, none of them shares a common ancestor with any other.

D. Chimpanzees, humans, chickens, and oak trees all share an


 * Topic:** Evolution and Natural Selection

Correct Answer

D

Misconceptions

Answer Choice: A
 * Species that are similar can share a common ancestor, but species that have no apparent, obvious, or superficial similarities cannot share a common ancestor.

Answer Choice: C People pick these answers because they believe that if something looks different or has different characteristics they do not have the same ancestor
 * Members of different species do not share a common ancestor.

Example: Chickens an T-Rex's look very different but have a common ancestor.

Things that look completely different can have the same common ancestor #evoution