Pharyngeal Slits Are Present in the Embryos of Organisms as Diverse

question 27

Multiple Choice

Pharyngeal slits are present in the embryos of organisms as diverse as fish,chickens,and humans.Why would organisms as different as these have similar embryonic structures?

• A)The organisms shared a common ancestor whose embryos had pharyngeal slits.
• B)The pharyngeal slits is an acquired characteristic that just happens to look similar in different species.
• C)The organisms shared a common ancestor, which did not have the slits, but natural selection created similar changes in the embryos over time.
• D)The pharyngeal slits develop into gills because all species need to survive in a water environment at some point in their life cycle.

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Definitions:

Pregnancy

The condition of having a developing embryo or fetus in the body, following conception and leading to childbirth.

Financial Inability

The lack of sufficient monetary resources to afford or maintain a desired standard of living or to fulfill financial obligations.

Adopted Children

Children who are legally taken into a family different from their birth family as their own.

Foster Homes

Households that provide temporary care for children whose biological parents are unable to care for them.