Which of the following statements is consistent with the assertion that protists are paraphyletic?
A) There is no common set of synapomorphies that define a protist
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.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A paraphyletic group is one that includes some but not all of the descendants of a common ancestor. Protists are considered paraphyletic because they include some but not all eukaryotic lineages, so there is no single set of defining characteristics that apply to all protists. Some protists have characteristics that suggest they are more closely related to animals or plants, for example, while others do not. Therefore, choice A is consistent with the assertion that protists are paraphyletic.

Which of the Following Statements Is Consistent with the Assertion