Question

while species in the sunflower family typically present radial symmetry, where each petal grows in virtually identical form from a central axis, hong ma—a prominent researcher in the reproductive development and evolution of ______ led a study that indicated bilateral symmetry has emerged in some sunflower plants through convergent evolution. which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of standard english? choose 1 answer: a plants, who b plants—who c plants; d plants—

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Using a comma to introduce "who" is incorrect here as the phrase "a prominent researcher..." is a non - restrictive appositive, and a comma would not be the right punctuation to set it off after "plants" in this context. Also, the structure would be awkward.
• Option B: Using a dash to introduce "who" is incorrect. A dash is not the appropriate punctuation to introduce a relative pronoun for an appositive phrase.
• Option C: A semicolon is used to separate two independent clauses. But "a prominent researcher..." is not an independent clause, so a semicolon is incorrect.
• Option D: The em - dash is used to set off the non - restrictive appositive "a prominent researcher in the reproductive development and evolution of plants" which provides additional information about Hong Ma. This is the correct punctuation to use here.

Answer:

D. plants—