Answer :
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Marianne's question about whether a fruit fly and a fruit bat share a common theory can be answered as follows:
- **A. Yes, because the fruit fly and fruit bat share the common trait of eating fruit:** This statement is not accurate. Sharing a common trait like eating fruit does not necessarily mean they share a common theory or ancestor.
- **B. No, because the fruit fly is an insect and the fruit bat is a mammal:** This option highlights a fundamental biological difference between the two animals based on their classifications as insect and mammal, indicating they do not share a recent common ancestor.
- **C. Maybe, depending on specific traits at the organism and cellular levels of both animals:** This option recognizes that similarities between the two animals at different levels (organismal or cellular) could hint at a shared commonality, but it does not provide a definitive answer.
- **D. Yes, because all living things share a common ancestor:** This statement reflects the scientific concept of universal common ancestry, suggesting that all living organisms on Earth ultimately share a common ancestor. Therefore, this option implies that a fruit fly and a fruit bat indeed share a common ancestor.
In conclusion, the most accurate answer to Marianne's question would be option D, stating that a fruit fly and a fruit bat share a common ancestor according to the theory of universal common ancestry in biology.