Science Assessment

The evolution of hands and arms from fins is one of the most important changes to occur in the history of vertebrates. There are only two groups of bones in the fins of living fish (long bones and short bones), but there are three groups of bones in the limbs of other vertebrates such as mice (arms, wrists, and fingers).

Short and long bones in the fins of fish                      Arms, wrists, and fingers in mice

Which of the following would provide evidence that both wrists and fingers of mice evolved from the SHORT bones of the fins of fish?

1. If the DNA needed for wrist and finger growth in mice also exists in fish DNA.
2. If during mouse development, both wrist and finger bones grew from a set of bones similar to the LONG bones in fish fins.
3. If DNA that is needed for the development of the LONG bones in fish is inserted into mice that haven't been able to grow wrists and fingers results in the mice not developing normal wrists and fingers.
4. If DNA that is needed for the development of SHORT bones in fish is inserted into mice that haven't been able to grow wrists and fingers results in the mice developing normal wrists and fingers.

The scenario presented here is based on an actual scientific study (Gehrke, et. al.  2015); however, it has been simplified for testing purposes.