[Campbell Biology P.697] According to the text, what is the significance of '305 million yea... | Practice Question

According to the text, what is the significance of '305 million years ago' in the context of angiosperm evolution?

  • A: It is the estimated time when angiosperms first originated.
  • B: It is the time when extant gymnosperm lineages diverged from the lineage leading to angiosperms.
  • C: It marks the diversification period of early angiosperms.
  • D: It refers to the age of the oldest known fossil monocot.

Explanation

The text clearly states: 'Molecular and morphological evidence suggests that extant gymnosperm lineages had diverged from the lineage leading to angiosperms by 305 million years ago. Note that this does not imply that angiosperms originated 305 million years ago, but that the most recent common ancestor of extant gymnosperms and angiosperms lived at that time.'