Darwin analogized the effects of evolution as the above-ground portion of a many-branched tree, with extant species being the tips of the twigs. The common ancestor of two species is most analogous to which anatomical tree part?
A)a single twig that gets longer with time
B)a node where two twigs diverge
C)a twig that branches with time
D)the trunk
E)neighboring twigs attached to the same stem

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The common ancestor of two species can be thought of as a point in the evolutionary tree where two twigs diverge. Just like a node in a tree, it represents a point of common ancestry from which two branches (or species) have developed over time.

Darwin Analogized the Effects of Evolution as the Above-Ground Portion