If many organisms share common features, could they also share a common ancestry? Class 9

If many organisms share common features, could they also share a common ancestry? Class 9

Pause and Ponder (Page 231)

Question 1.

If many organisms share common features, could they also share a common ancestry? Class 9

Answer:

Yes, if many organisms share common features, they could also share a common ancestry. Similar features in organisms suggest that they may have evolved from common ancestors. The more features two organisms share, the more closely related they are likely to be. This is one of the key ideas behind biological classification - organisms are grouped based on shared characteristics, which often reflect their shared evolutionary history. For example, all vertebrates share a backbone, suggesting they evolved from a common ancestor with this feature.