How could the notion of maximum parsimony lead to an error in establishing an evolutionary relationship?
a) It focuses on the most divergent paths for evolution.
b) It focuses on counterintuitive and complex connections.
c) It focuses on simple and obvious connections.
d) It focuses on the most convergent paths for evolution.

5 / 5 points

How could the notion of maximum parsimony lead to an error in establishing an evolutionary relationship?

It focuses on simple and obvious connections.

Explanation:

This concept instructs scientists to make the simplest and most obvious connections when tracing evolutionary relationships throughout history. If a counterintuitive or surprising evolutionary process occurred, maximum parsimony would exclude this.

unicellular organisms, like bacteria, are able to perform all life functions within one single cell. multicellular organisms need many different types of cells to carry out the same life processes. each of these special types of cells has a different structure that it perform a specific function.