In India, a group of scientists was studying fossils from a coal deposit formed during the Permian period (290–245 million years ago). They found three fossil species from the same genus in different levels (strata) of the coal. When radiocarbon dating on these fossils was performed, it showed exactly the same levels of carbon-14 in all three fossil species. The data is summarised in the table below.
Which one of the following is the correct conclusion to draw from these findings?
A) There is no evolutionary relationship between these three fossil species.
B) G. clarkeana is the common evolutionary ancestor of G. major and G. obliqua.
C) As carbon dating is a more reliable dating technique than analysis of strata in coal deposits, the fossils of G. major, G. obliqua and G. clarkeana are all of the same age.
D) An analysis of strata in coal deposits is a more reliable dating technique than carbon dating for Permian fossils; the fossil of G. major is younger than the fossil of G. obliqua.