Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN: 9780133923001
Author: Gerald Audesirk, Teresa Audesirk, Bruce E. Byers
Publisher: PEARSON
expand_more
expand_more
format_list_bulleted
Concept explainers
Videos
Textbook Question
Chapter 15.3, Problem 1CSC
What Good Are Wisdom Teeth and Ostrich Wings?
Ostrich wings are vestigial because they are too rudimentary to perform the function for which they evolved in the species’ flying ancestor. Nonetheless, the ostrich uses its wings for other purposes. For example, an ostrich may extend its wings to the side while running, to help maintain balance, and it may spread its wings as part of a threat display. These uses show that evolution by natural selection can sometimes repurpose vestigial structures that have lost the function for which they originally evolved. But whether a vestigial structure remains useless or acquires a new function, it is homologous to the version that retains its original function in other organisms and provides evidence of common ancestry. But are all similarities between different organisms the result of shared ancestry?
Expert Solution & Answer
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solution
Students have asked these similar questions
Sugar gliders and Northern flying squirrels are mammals that have many morphological similarities despite being genetically different. Both are nocturnal and have large eyes to help them see in the dark. Both live in trees and have flaps of skin connecting their front and back legs, and when their front and back legs are extended, the flaps allow the animals to glide from one tree branch to another. Sugar gliders are native to Australia, and Northern flying squirrels are native to North America.
Which of the following best explains the morphological similarities between these two species?
a.The similarities in traits indicate the species are the result of divergent evolution from a common ancestor that had the same traits that these two species share.
b.The two species evolved as the result of two separate bottleneck events that reduced the existing populations to a few individuals who happened to have the same traits.
c.The…
Human embryos have tails which become tail bones before birth. Tails also appear in fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and
mammals Humans also have hair and produce milk to nourish the young, which is unique to mammals. What does this indicate?
a close evolutionary connection between humans and many other mammals
a very distant evolutionary connection between humans and many other mammals
a very distant evolutionary connection between humans and many other reptiles
a close evolutionary connection between humans and many other reptiles
Mammals have a particularly good sense of earing thanks to their inner ear which
includes three tiny bones. Reptiles, in contrast, have a single inner ear bone. The
lower jaw of reptiles is composed of multiple bones while the lower jaw of mammals
is a single bone. Fossil and developmental evidence indicate that the inner ear bones
of mammals evolved from lower jawbones. This suggests that the inner ear bones of
mammals are
Mammal skull, including ear bones
eardrum
Reptile skull, including ear bone
eardrum
Oa transitional trait
a vestigial structure
a living fossil
an exaptation
an analogy
MacBook Air
DII
DD
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F7
F8
F9
F10
FV
23
24
%
&
3
4.
6
7
8
U
D
F
G
H
J
K
~の
* 00
O OO
Chapter 15 Solutions
Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
Ch. 15.1 - identify some of the thinkers whose ideas set the...Ch. 15.1 - Prob. 2CYLCh. 15.1 - define evolution?Ch. 15.2 - A recent study found that Galpagos mockingbirds on...Ch. 15.2 - Prob. 2TCCh. 15.2 - explain how natural selection works and how it...Ch. 15.2 - describe the logic, based on four postulates, by...Ch. 15.3 - The fossil history of some kinds of modem...Ch. 15.3 - What Good Are Wisdom Teeth and Ostrich Wings?...Ch. 15.3 - Are a peacocks tail and a dogs tail homologous...
Ch. 15.3 - Between 70% and 85% of people will experience...Ch. 15.3 - describe the evidence that evolution has occurred?Ch. 15.3 - explain the difference between similarity due to...Ch. 15.3 - What Good Are Wisdom Teeth and Ostrich Wings? Just...Ch. 15.4 - To reduce the incidence of pesticide resistance,...Ch. 15.4 - describe some observations and experiments that...Ch. 15.4 - CONSIDER THIS Some advocates of the view that all...Ch. 15.4 - Some advocates of the view that all organisms were...Ch. 15 - Whale skeletons contain nonfunctional pelvic bones...Ch. 15 - Darwin was influenced by Malthuss thinking about...Ch. 15 - Prob. 3MCCh. 15 - Which of the following is not required for...Ch. 15 - Prob. 5MCCh. 15 - The flipper of a seal is homologous with the _____...Ch. 15 - Prob. 2FIBCh. 15 - Georges Cuvier espoused a concept called ______ to...Ch. 15 - Prob. 4FIBCh. 15 - Prob. 5FIBCh. 15 - Darwin's postulate 2 states that ______. The work...Ch. 15 - Prob. 1RQCh. 15 - Distinguish between catastrophism and...Ch. 15 - Describe Lamarcks theory of inheritance of...Ch. 15 - What is natural selection? Describe how natural...Ch. 15 - Describe how evolution occurs. In your...Ch. 15 - What is convergent evolution? Give an example.Ch. 15 - How do biochemistry and molecular genetics...Ch. 15 - In what sense are humans currently acting as...Ch. 15 - In discussions of untapped human potential, It is...Ch. 15 - Does evolution through natural selection produce...
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- On the back of the human skull, there is a small bump, below which is an opening where the spinal cord enters the skull. Which of the following statements provides the best evolutionary explanation for the location of the opening near the base of the skull? It is associated with the change to a bipedal stance. It provided greater protection for the spinal cord. It allowed for the hominin brain to grow much larger than other primates. This change was necessary for the increase in size from prosimian forms to anthropoid forms.arrow_forwardThousands of years ago, the jaws and teeth of jaguars were more varied in size than they are today. During a period of climate change about 11,000 years ago, jaguars faced a shortage of food. There were fewer mammals to eat, so the jaguars had to eat shelled reptiles. The jaguars with the largest jaws and teeth could most easily eat the shelled reptiles. Which of the following statements best explains why large jaws and teeth are common characteristics in jaguars today? Jaguars with smallest jaws and teeth died out completely. Jaguars with the smallest jaws and teeth were not able to mate. Jaguars with the largest jaws and teeth survived and reproduced more successfully than the other jaguars. Jaguars with the largest jaws and teeth strengthened them by using them more frequently than the other jaguars.arrow_forwardWhen Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands, he observed the marine iguana. He later decided that the marine iguana evolved from the terrestrial iguana found on the mainland of South America. The marine iguana differs from the terrestrial iguana in several ways. The marine iguana has a flat tail, long claws and sharp teeth while the terrestrial iguana has a round tail, short claws and flat teeth. When looking at the differences between the terrestrial and the marine iguana, which of the following is not evidence that evolution has occurred? * O Homologous structures shared between both iguanas O The biogeography of the iguanas O Comparative embryology of the iguanas The state of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium present in both iguanasarrow_forward
- Discuss: How old are the oldest camel fossils shown? How has the skull changed over time? How have the teeth changed over time? How have the leg bones changed over time? Table 15.1 Fossils are used by scientists to understand how camels evolved. Table 15.1 Camel Evolution Age Paleocene 65 million years ago Eocene 54 million years ago Organism Skull and teeth Limb bones Oligocene 33 million years ago Miocene 23 million years ago Presentarrow_forwardWhat is wrong with this statement: Birds evolved lighter bones to allowed them to fly and take advantage of open niches. All of the choices are true; none are false. It implies that the variation in the anatomy of birds did not come first, but rather the need did. It implies that there is an intent to evolution. It implies that adaptations evolve out of a need.arrow_forwardThe presence of tiny hairs, called setae, on the toe pads of some geckos is associated with the ability to adhere to smooth surfaces. This ability allows geckos to climb in areas where many predators cannot. Scientists studying the evolution of setae have identified three closely related species of gecko, only one of which can adhere to smooth surfaces. A model of the evolutionary relatedness between these species is represented in the figure. Which of the following statements is an accurate interpretation of the labeled branch points on the model?arrow_forward
- The presence of tiny hairs, called setae, on the toe pads of some geckos is associated with the ability to adhere to smooth surfaces. This ability allows geckos to climb in areas where many predators cannot. Scientists studying the evolution of setae have identified three closely related species of gecko, only one of which can adhere to smooth surfaces.. A model of the evolutionary relatedness between these species is represented in the figure. G. humeralis 1 Can adhere OG. concinnatus O Cannot adhere O G. antillensis Which of the following statements is an accurate description of the evolutionary relationships shown in the model? G. concinnatus is more closely related to G. antillensis than to G. humeralis. DNA nnd protein segienci in common with G humeralis than with G concionatusarrow_forwardHumans as individuals have a number of disadvantages compared to other animals. For instance we are not very fast, strong, cannot see well in the dark, have a poor sense of smell and hearing compared to other animals, and we are not very good climbers. With all of these disadvantages how is it that we have been so successful? Shouldn't we have gone extinct as other humanoids such as Homo erectus? Discuss why humans have beaten the odds and are so successful.arrow_forwarda- Tiktaalik is a fish that lived 375 million years ago that grew to three metres long and had aquatic features mixed with others more suited to life on land. The fossils of five Tiktaalik specimens reveal that the animals had a large, robust pelvic girdle, a prominent hip joint, and long hind fins. The powerful fins could have propelled the beast in the water, but also helped it walk on riverbeds, or scramble around on mudflats. It is believed that Tiktaalik evolved into four-legged land animals. The scientists have yet to find a Tiktaalik hind fin bone, or any remains that might shed light on the origins of toes. A picture of Tiktaalik is available at https://www.npr.org/2010/07/05/127937070/the-human-edge-finding-our-inner-fish Describe how Darwin would explain that evolution of hind legs (of land animals) actually began as enhanced hind fins (of Tiktaalik), referring to his relevant observations and inferences (History of Evolutionary Thought). Indicate where the observations and…arrow_forward
- Tiktaalik is a fish that lived 375 million years ago that grew to three metres long and had aquatic features mixed with others more suited to life on land. The fossils of five Tiktaalik specimens reveal that the animals had a large, robust pelvic girdle, a prominent hip joint, and long hind fins. The powerful fins could have propelled the beast in the water, but also helped it walk on riverbeds, or scramble around on mudflats. It is believed that Tiktaalik evolved into four- legged land animals. The scientists have yet to find a Tiktaalik hind fin bone, or any remains that might shed light on the origins of toes. A picture of Tiktaalik is available at https://www.npr.org/2010/07/05/127937070/t human-edge-finding-our-inner-fish Describe how Darwin would explain that evolution of hind legs (of land animals) actually began as enhanced hind fins (of Tiktaalik), referring to his relevant observations and inferences (Lecture 02 History of Evolutionary Thought - slide 18). Indicate where the…arrow_forwardBirds are supposed to be the dinosaurs' closest relatives. List and explain five reasons why the Aves have been able to adapt (morphological traits) and survive in the ever-changing world we live into this day.arrow_forwardBirds are unique because they have modified forelimbs which serve as wings and a body covered in feathers. However, just having wings and feathers does not mean that an organism can fly (look at the ostrich and penguin!). Please discuss at least 3 of these additional characteristics/adaptations that are required in order for birds to fly.arrow_forward
arrow_back_ios
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
arrow_forward_ios
Recommended textbooks for you
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)BiologyISBN:9780134580999Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. HoehnPublisher:PEARSON
Biology 2eBiologyISBN:9781947172517Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann ClarkPublisher:OpenStax
Anatomy & PhysiologyBiologyISBN:9781259398629Author:McKinley, Michael P., O'loughlin, Valerie Dean, Bidle, Theresa StouterPublisher:Mcgraw Hill Education,
Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)BiologyISBN:9780815344322Author:Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter WalterPublisher:W. W. Norton & Company
Laboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & PhysiologyBiologyISBN:9781260159363Author:Martin, Terry R., Prentice-craver, CynthiaPublisher:McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.
Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)BiologyISBN:9781260231700Author:Sylvia S. Mader, Michael WindelspechtPublisher:McGraw Hill Education
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
Biology
ISBN:9780134580999
Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:PEARSON
Biology 2e
Biology
ISBN:9781947172517
Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann Clark
Publisher:OpenStax
Anatomy & Physiology
Biology
ISBN:9781259398629
Author:McKinley, Michael P., O'loughlin, Valerie Dean, Bidle, Theresa Stouter
Publisher:Mcgraw Hill Education,
Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)
Biology
ISBN:9780815344322
Author:Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter
Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
Laboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & Physiology
Biology
ISBN:9781260159363
Author:Martin, Terry R., Prentice-craver, Cynthia
Publisher:McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.
Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)
Biology
ISBN:9781260231700
Author:Sylvia S. Mader, Michael Windelspecht
Publisher:McGraw Hill Education
GCSE Biology - Adaptations #79; Author: Cognito;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC-u8xcZYSM;License: Standard Youtube License