what is the relationship between how closely related species are and the number of trair they sahre
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer:
The more closely related two species are, the more traits they tend to share.
300-Word Explanation:
The relationship between how closely related species are and the number of traits they share is rooted in evolution and common ancestry. Organisms that are more closely related have a more recent common ancestor, meaning they diverged from each other more recently in evolutionary time. Because of this, they have had less time to accumulate differences, and therefore, they tend to share more anatomical, physiological, genetic, and behavioral traits.
For example, humans and chimpanzees are closely related species; they share over 98% of their DNA and have similar skeletal structures, brain organization, and even social behaviors. In contrast, humans and fish are more distantly related, having diverged from a common ancestor hundreds of millions of years ago. As a result, they share fewer traits, even though some (like a backbone) are still present due to an ancient common ancestor.
This concept is fundamental to phylogenetics, the study of evolutionary relationships among species. Scientists use shared traits, especially genetic ones, to build evolutionary trees (called phylogenetic trees or cladograms). These trees visually represent how species evolved from common ancestors and how closely they are related. The more traits (especially inherited, not independently evolved traits) two species share, the closer they are placed on the tree.
However, not all shared traits mean close relation. Some traits may arise through convergent evolution, where unrelated species develop similar features independently due to similar environments (like wings in bats and birds). Therefore, scientists rely on a combination of many traits and genetic data to determine relationships accurately.
In summary, the closer two species are related, the greater the number of traits they typically share, due to inheritance from a recent common ancestor and limited evolutionary divergence.