Which hypothesis best explains the significance of the hominin skeletons recovered from the cave in the context of natural selection and evolution?

• A. They are evidence that all hominins evolved simultaneously from a single ancestor without any transitional forms.
• B. They indicate that hominins did not undergo any significant evolutionary changes over time.
• C. They prove that natural selection does not play a role in hominin evolution.
• D. They represent a transitional species that exhibits both primitive and derived traits, supporting the idea of gradual evolutionary change.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the concept of natural selection and evolution. Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. Evolution refers to the gradual change in species over time, often involving transitional forms that exhibit both primitive and derived traits.
2. Step 2: Analyze the significance of transitional species in evolutionary biology. Transitional species are organisms that show characteristics of both ancestral and derived forms, providing evidence for gradual evolutionary change rather than abrupt shifts.
3. Step 3: Evaluate the incorrect hypotheses provided in the problem. For example, the idea that all hominins evolved simultaneously from a single ancestor without transitional forms contradicts the evidence of gradual change seen in the fossil record. Similarly, the claim that hominins did not undergo significant evolutionary changes over time ignores the diversity and adaptations observed in hominin fossils.
4. Step 4: Consider the role of the hominin skeletons recovered from the cave. These skeletons likely exhibit a mix of primitive traits (shared with earlier ancestors) and derived traits (unique adaptations), which aligns with the concept of transitional species in evolutionary theory.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the hypothesis stating 'They represent a transitional species that exhibits both primitive and derived traits, supporting the idea of gradual evolutionary change' is the best explanation. This hypothesis is consistent with the principles of natural selection and the evidence for gradual evolution observed in the fossil record.