Fossil X can be considered to have evolvedearlier than fossil Y if : [...
Fossil 'X' can be considered to have evolved earlier than fossil 'Y' if fossil 'X' is found in lower stratum of undisturbed sedimentary rock than 'Y'. Fossils are preserved forms of living organisms that really existed on earth. Presence of 'X' in lower stratum indicates that it existed of 'X' in lower stratum indicates that it existed much before than 'Y'.
Fossil X can be considered to have evolvedearlier than fossil Y if : [...
Explanation:
The correct answer is option 'A', i.e., fossil Y has vestigial structures that are homologous to functional structures in fossil X.
- Evolution is a gradual process that occurs over a long period. The organisms undergo changes in their structures, functions, and behaviors over time.
- Fossils are the remains or traces of ancient organisms that have been preserved in rocks. They provide evidence of the existence of different species in the past.
- The relative age of fossils can be determined by their position in the sedimentary rock layers. The lower the fossil is found in the rock layers, the older it is.
- Fossil X can be considered to have evolved earlier than fossil Y if Y has vestigial structures that are homologous to functional structures in fossil X. This is because:
- Vestigial structures are the remnants of functional structures that were present in the ancestors of the organism. These structures have lost their original function but still exist in the organism.
- Homologous structures are the structures that have a common evolutionary origin but may have different functions in different organisms.
- If fossil Y has vestigial structures that are homologous to functional structures in fossil X, it means that fossil X has undergone further evolution to lose those structures, making them vestigial in fossil Y.
- Therefore, fossil X must have evolved earlier than fossil Y in the evolutionary timeline.
- The other options, i.e., structural complexity, state of preservation, and position in the sedimentary rock layers, do not necessarily determine the relative age of fossils. Structural complexity can be a result of adaptations to the environment, preservation can depend on various factors, and position in the rock layers can be affected by geological processes.