Scientists also compared the DNA sequence of one gene in whales with the same gene in other animals. These comparisons help scientists decide which animals share a more recent common ancestor with whales.



\begin{table}

\captionsetup{labelformat=empty}

\caption{Data Table 1: Whale Ancestors in the Fossil Record (simplified values)}

Organism	Age (million years ago)	Hind limb length as a percent of body length
Pakicetus	\begin{tabular}[t]{l} 50
greatest

&

40

greatest

\\

\hline Ambulocetus & 49 & 30 \\

\hline Rodhocetus & 47 & 15 \\

\hline Basilosaurus & 38 & 3 \\

\hline Modern baleen whale & 0 least & 0 (small pelvic bones only) least \\

\hline

\end{tabular}

\end{table}