Which of the Following Would Form a Nested Hierarchy or Hierarchies

Question

Which of the following would form a nested hierarchy or hierarchies of homologies?
A)Humans share most common blood types but we have fewer in common with monkeys and share fewest with rats
B)Birds have feathers,muscles and nucleated cells;fish have muscles and nucleated cells;an amoeba has a nucleus
C)Skeletal measurements cluster among modern apes and humans;ape-man fossil skeletal features also cluster and overlap with both modern apes and humans
D)All of the choices include nested hierarchies of homologies

Accepted Answer

All of the choices describe examples of a nested hierarchy or hierarchies of homologies. A nested hierarchy is a pattern where groups of similar organisms can be nested within more inclusive groups. Homologies are shared traits between organisms that are derived from a common ancestor. Option A describes a nested hierarchy of blood types, where humans share more blood types with monkeys than with rats. Option B describes a nested hierarchy of cellular and anatomical features, where birds have more traits in common with each other than with fish or amoebae. Option C describes a nested hierarchy of skeletal measurements among primates, where ape-man fossils share traits with both modern apes and humans. Thus, option D is the best choice as it includes all the above examples.