Some whales have teeth as embryos but do not as adults. What is the most likely explanation of this phenomenon?
A)Whales are in the process of evolving teeth.
B)Whale teeth appear as the result of a frequently occurring mutation.
C)Whales evolved from organisms that have teeth.
D)The allele for teeth is unusually common in some whale populations.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of teeth in whale embryos suggests that their ancestors had teeth. However, over time, whales evolved away from having teeth as it became more advantageous to have baleen plates for filter-feeding. This is an example of evolutionary adaptation.

Some Whales Have Teeth as Embryos but Do Not as Adults