Biology: Life on Earth
Biology: Life on Earth
10th Edition
ISBN: 9780321729712
Author: Gerald Audesirk, Teresa Audesirk, Bruce E. Byers
Publisher: Benjamin Cummings
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Chapter 14, Problem 1FTB

The flipper of a seal is homologous with the _______ of a bird, and both of these are homologous with the _________ of a human. The wing of a bird and the wing of a butterfly are described as __________ structures that arose as a result of _________ evolution. Remnants of structures in animals that have no use for them, such as the small hind leg bones of whales, are described as _________ structures.

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Summary Introduction

To review:

The given blank space in the statement, “the flipper of a seal is homologous with the of a bird, and both of these are homologous with the of a human. The wing of a bird and the wing of a butterfly are described as__________________ structures that arose as a result of evolution. Remnants of structures in animals that have no use for them, such as the small hind leg bones of whales, are described as __________________ structures.”

Introduction:

Convergent evolution may be defined as the development of the same kind of adaptive functional structures in the organisms that are not even related. Such organs are called analogous organs. While the structures in the organisms that have a common ancestry are called homologous organs and the development is named as divergent evolution.

Explanation of Solution

The wings of the birds or the arms of the humans or the flippers of the seals have been evolved from the common ancestor and have a common basic structure. However, according to requirements for the survival, the structures were modified to function in a better way. This evolution is of the divergent type where the function of homologous organs changes in different organisms.

However, the wings of the birds and the insects are different in structures. They do not have a common ancestor as well, but the wings of both the organisms are used for flight. These organs, which are similar to the basis of their function are called analogous organs and the evolution is of convergent type.

When a structure in an organism is not capable of performing the functions that it was destined to do, it turns nonfunctional are such structures are called vestigial structures. These structures had been evolved in the ancestors of the species, but are of no use in the present generations. The examples of vestigial structures are pelvic bones in whales and some snakes, small hind leg bones in whales, and molar teeth in vampire bats.

Conclusion

The flipper of a seal is homologous with the wing of a bird, and both of these are homologous with the arm of a human. The wing of a bird and the wing of a butterfly are described as analogous structures that arose as a result of convergent evolution. Remnants of structures in animals that have no use for them, such as the small hind leg bones of whales, are described as vestigial structures.

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