Question

scientists compile many pieces of evidence to infer evolutionary relationships. here is one such piece of evidence.
these pictures show the leaves of three different angiosperms: a corn plant, a potato plant, and a lily.
how does this evidence support the claim that corn plants are more closely related to lilies than to potato plants? complete the paragraph.
corn plants and lilies have similarities in their leaves than corn plants and potato plants have. this suggests that corn plants and have less similar dna and evolved from a more common ancestor.

Explanation:

• For the first blank: By observing the leaf - shapes (corn and lily have long, narrow leaves while potato has broader, more complex - shaped leaves), corn plants and lilies have more similarities in their leaves than corn plants and potato plants.
• For the second blank: Since corn and potato have less leaf - shape similarity, corn plants and potato plants have less similar DNA.
• For the third blank: Organisms that are more closely related (like corn and lily) evolved from a recent common ancestor.

Answer:

1. more
2. potato plants
3. recent