Which of the following observations of species distribution across Earth support the theory of common descent?
A) All continents contain nearly identical organisms.
B) Each part of Earth contains life forms perfectly designed for that region.
C) One can see similarities in organisms that are found in close proximity, but each population has adaptations that suit the organisms to their particular habitat.
D) There are very few similarities among life forms on different tropical islands.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Option C supports the theory of common descent because it acknowledges that organisms share similarities but also have adaptations that suit them to their particular habitat, implying that they all have a common ancestor with slight variations that allowed them to adapt to different environments. The other options do not support the theory of common descent. Option A implies a lack of variation, which would contradict the theory of common descent. Option B forms part of the argument for intelligent design, not for common descent. Finally, option D implies a lack of similarities among organisms, which again would contradict the theory of common descent.

Which of the Following Observations of Species Distribution Across Earth