Which statements best describe shared characteristics? check all that apply. shared characteristics always exist in the common ancestor and in the modern organism. shared characteristics never exist in the common ancestor or in the modern organism. the more characteristics organisms share, the more closely related they are. the fewer characteristics organisms share, the more closely related they are. shared characteristics can exist among organisms that belong to different species. shared characteristics only exist among organisms that belong to the same species.

The statements that best describe shared characteristics are:

The more characteristics organisms share, the more closely related they are.

Shared characteristics can exist among organisms that belong to different species.

Explanation:

Evolution is a process which explains how traits are changed over time. It explains the similarities among different organisms based on their evolutionary history. According to the theory of evolution, the more the similarities in traits of different species, the more they are similar.

Evolution also explains that organisms that belong to different species can have shared characteristics because they might have a evolved from a common ancestor in the past.

A,C,D

Explanation:

the backbone of the dna and rna compound is sugar phosphate.