Question

marianne is comparing two animals: a fruit fly and a fruit bat. she asks, \do a fruit fly and a fruit bat share a common ancestor in their evolutionary history?\ according to evolutionary theory, what is the answer to mariannes question?
a. yes, because the fruit fly and fruit bat share the common trait of eating fruit.
b. no, because the fruit fly is an insect and the fruit bat is a mammal.
c. maybe, depending on specific traits at the organism and cellular levels of both animals.
d. yes, because all living things share a common ancestor.

Explanation:

Evolutionary theory states that all living organisms share a universal common ancestor. While fruit flies (insects) and fruit bats (mammals) are distantly related, they trace back to a common early ancestor in the tree of life. Shared eating habits (Option A) do not define shared ancestry, and their different classes (Option B) does not negate a distant common ancestor. Option C is incorrect because evolutionary theory confirms a universal common ancestor for all life.

Answer:

D. Yes, because all living things share a common ancestor.