Why are fossils useful for determining whether a trait is ancestral or derived?
A) Fossils can be dated, and thus we can know when a trait evolved.
B) Fossils can give us direct evidence of the character states of extinct lineages.
C) Maximum likelihood methods can be used with fossil structures.
D) With fossil information, we can know where animals actually lived in the past.
E) None of the above; fossils are not useful in determining whether a trait is ancestral or derived.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Fossils provide direct evidence of the character states of extinct lineages, which can help determine whether a trait is ancestral or derived. By examining the morphology of fossils, researchers can compare the characteristics of extinct organisms with those of living organisms, allowing them to infer the evolutionary relationships among different groups of organisms. Fossils can also provide information about the age of different rock layers, which can help to establish the temporal context in which different traits evolved. However, the other options (A, C, D, and E) are not as directly related to the usefulness of fossils for determining ancestral or derived traits.

Why Are Fossils Useful for Determining Whether a Trait Is