Cone cells most likely evolved from:

• A. Muscle cells specialized for contraction
• B. Photoreceptor cells present in early vertebrates
• C. Red blood cells involved in oxygen transport
• D. Epithelial cells forming skin layers

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the function of cone cells: Cone cells are specialized photoreceptor cells in the retina of the eye that are responsible for color vision and function best in bright light conditions.
2. Recognize the evolutionary context: Cone cells are part of the visual system, which evolved to detect and process light. This suggests that their evolutionary origin is linked to other photoreceptor cells.
3. Eliminate unrelated options: Muscle cells specialized for contraction, red blood cells involved in oxygen transport, and epithelial cells forming skin layers are not involved in light detection or vision, making them unlikely candidates for the evolutionary origin of cone cells.
4. Focus on the correct option: Photoreceptor cells present in early vertebrates are the most plausible origin for cone cells, as they are directly involved in light detection and represent an ancestral form of visual cells.
5. Conclude the reasoning: Cone cells likely evolved from photoreceptor cells present in early vertebrates, as these cells share the functional and structural characteristics necessary for light detection and vision.