Campbell Biology In Focus
Campbell Biology In Focus
2nd Edition
ISBN: 9780134203072
Author: Lisa A. Urry, Michael L. Cain, Steven A. Wasserman, Peter V. Minorsky, Jane B. Reece
Publisher: PEARSON
bartleby

Concept explainers

bartleby

Videos

Textbook Question
Book Icon
Chapter 20, Problem 1TYU

In a comparison of birds and mammals, the condition of having four limbs is

  1. A.    a shared ancestral character.
  2. B.     a shared derived character.
  3. C.     a character useful for distinguishing birds from mammals.
  4. D.    an example of analogy rather than homology.
Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark
Summary Introduction

Introduction:

A shared ancestral character is referred to as a character that initially originated from an ancestor of a taxon. Therefore, such shared ancestral character is shared with other taxa that have an earlier last common ancestor. Common internal structures can be shared by two different organisms from different taxa, for examples, the limbs of birds and humans; flipper of a whale and wings of a bat; and the limbs of a bat and deer.

Answer to Problem 1TYU

Correct answer:

A shared ancestral character is inherited from a common ancestor and can appear anywhere in a phylogenetic tree, its presence does not confirm anything about the relationships within that tree. Therefore, option (A) is correct.

Explanation of Solution

Reason for correct statement:

A shared ancestral character is common in two lineages, for example, the limb of a human and bird. Both have a similar internal structure, but it cannot be inferred that humans are more closely related to birds than terrestrial vertebrates.

Option (A) is given as “a shared ancestral character”.

“In a comparison of birds and mammals, the condition of having four limbs is a shared ancestral character”, hence, it is the right answer.

Hence, option (A) is correct.

Reasons for the incorrect statements:

Option (B) is given as “a shared derived character”.

The shared derived character evolved in the lineage leads up to the clade and that places members of that clade apart from other individuals. Shared derived characters are used to group organisms into clades. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (C) is given as “a character useful for distinguishing birds from mammals”.

As the shared ancestral character is one that is common in two taxa, but it cannot be inferred that humans are more closely related to birds than mammals. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (D) is given as “an example of analogy rather than homology”.

As analogous organs have similar functions but different origins, whereas homologous organs have similar origin but different functions. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Hence, options (B), (C), and (D) are incorrect.

Conclusion

In the comparison of birds and mammals, the condition of having four limbs is a shared ancestral character that shows the two taxa shared by a common ancestor.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
DNK dagi nukleotidlar va undan sintezlangan oqsildagi peptid boglar farqi 901 taga teng bo'lib undagi A jami H boglardan 6,5 marta kam bo'lsa DNK dagi jami H bog‘lar sonini toping
One of the ways for a cell to generate ATP is through the oxidative phosphorylation. In oxidative phosphorylation 3 ATP are produced from every one NADH molecule. In respiration, every glucose molecule produces 10 NADH molecules. If a cell is growing on 5 glucose molecules, how much ATP can be produced using oxidative phosphorylation/aerobic respiration?
If a cell is growing on 5 glucose molecules, how much ATP can be produced using oxidative phosphorylation/aerobic respiration?
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Biology
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
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Concepts of Biology
Biology
ISBN:9781938168116
Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James Wise
Publisher:OpenStax College
Text book image
BIOLOGY:CONCEPTS+APPL.(LOOSELEAF)
Biology
ISBN:9781305967359
Author:STARR
Publisher:CENGAGE L
Text book image
Human Biology (MindTap Course List)
Biology
ISBN:9781305112100
Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillan
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (Mi...
Biology
ISBN:9781305117396
Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)
Biology
ISBN:9781305389892
Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillan
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Comprehensive Medical Assisting: Administrative a...
Nursing
ISBN:9781305964792
Author:Wilburta Q. Lindh, Carol D. Tamparo, Barbara M. Dahl, Julie Morris, Cindy Correa
Publisher:Cengage Learning
The Evolution of Populations: Natural Selection, Genetic Drift, and Gene Flow; Author: Professor Dave Explains;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRWXEMlI0_U;License: Standard YouTube License, CC-BY
The Evolution of Humans | Evolution | Biology | FuseSchool; Author: FuseSchool - Global Education;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf_dDp7drFg;License: Standard YouTube License, CC-BY