Which of the following statements is consistent with the assertion that protists are paraphyletic?
A)The common ancestor of all protists evolved into other eukaryotic groups.
B)Protists all share a common set of synapomorphies.
C)Protists are all more primitive than land plants and animals.
D)Protists do not share a single common ancestor.
E)All of the above answers apply.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If protists are paraphyletic, it means that the common ancestor of all protists gave rise to other eukaryotic groups. This statement is consistent with the idea that protists are paraphyletic. Option B is not correct because if protists share a common set of synapomorphies, then they are a monophyletic group. Option C is incorrect because it assumes that protists are more primitive than land plants and animals, which is not necessarily true. Option D is also incorrect because protists share a common ancestor, but not all descendants of that ancestor are included in the group.

Which of the Following Statements Is Consistent with the Assertion