Question

scientists have studied the bones of whales. they discovered bones in the hind region of whales. these are similar to the pelvis and femur found in humans. select the correct statement(s) about the conclusions that can be drawn. whales have mated with animals that have hips. they have passed those bones on to their offspring. whales live in similar environments as animals with those bones. whales must share a common ancestor with animals that are able to walk on land. whales have this structure because they are able to walk. whales have changed over time. the fossil record provides evidence of evolutionary descent.

Explanation:

• Whales must share a common ancestor with animals that are able to walk on land: Homologous structures (like the similar pelvic and femur - like bones in whales and land - walking animals) suggest a common ancestry.
• Whales have changed over time. The fossil record provides evidence of evolutionary descent: The presence of vestigial or homologous structures in different organisms is evidence of evolutionary change over time.

• Whales have mated with animals that have hips. They have passed those bones on to their offspring: There is no evidence to suggest that whales mated with land - walking animals to get these bone structures. Homologous structures are better explained by common ancestry rather than inter - species mating.
• Whales live in similar environments as animals with those bones: The similarity in bone structure is not due to similar environments (which would be an example of convergent evolution, but these are homologous structures). Homologous structures are related to common ancestry, not similar habitats.
• Whales have this structure because they are able to walk: Whales are aquatic animals and do not use these structures (which are often vestigial) for walking.

Answer:

Whales must share a common ancestor with animals that are able to walk on land; Whales have changed over time. The fossil record provides evidence of evolutionary descent.