Which of the Following Could Be Considered the Most Recent

question 35

Multiple Choice

Which of the following could be considered the most recent common ancestor of living tetrapods?

• A)a sturdy-finned, shallow-water lobe-fin whose appendages had skeletal supports similar to those of terrestrial vertebrates
• B)an armoured, jawed placoderm with two pairs of appendages
• C)an early ray-finned fish that developed bony skeletal supports in its paired fins
• D)a salamander that had legs supported by a bony skeleton but moved with the side-to-side bending typical of fishes
• E)an early terrestrial caecilian whose legless condition had evolved secondarily

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Definitions:

Stare Decisis

A legal principle that obligates courts to follow historical cases when making a ruling on a similar case, ensuring consistency and predictability in law.

Supreme Court of Canada

The highest court in Canada, serving as the final appellate court in the judicial system, making decisions that bind all lower courts.

Charter of Rights and Freedoms

A foundational legal document in Canada, establishing rights and freedoms for Canadian citizens and those in Canada.

Principle of Stare Decisis

A legal principle that obligates courts to follow historical case law when making rulings in similar, subsequent cases.