Concept explainers
Section 14.2 What is the difference between a homologous and an analogous structure?
To explain:
The difference between the analogous and the homologous structures.
Introduction:
Homologous structures are developed from same developmental patterns and have the same structural design but have very different functions. Analogous structures arise from the different developmental pattern and have a different structural design but are similar in function.
Explanation of Solution
Homologous structures are those which are similar to their structural design (anatomy) and have a similar developmental pattern (embryology), but these structures perform different functions. These structures are inherited from a common ancestor. Examples of homologous structures are the forelimbs of a human, a horse, or a bat. These structures or organs having the same type of bones, blood vessels, nerves, and muscles, but they perform different functions such as the forearms of humans are used for manipulation, a horse uses for running, a bat uses it for flying.
Analogous structures are those which superficially look similar in physical appearance but have a different structural design. These structures or organs perform similar functions. Examples of analogous structures are, wings of insects, birds, and bats that perform the same function for flying but the wings are of different origin.
Homologous structures have similar ancestries but dissimilar in their functions. This structure shows divergent evolution. Analogous structures have different ancestries, but they have the same function. This structure shows convergent evolution.
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Chapter 19 Solutions
Essentials of Biology - With Connectplus
- How are shared ancestral characters and shared derived characters different? How is the concept of homology related to these concepts?arrow_forwardWhat two pieces of evidence support the claim that all life on Earth descended from a common ancestor?arrow_forwardAnalogous structures perform similar functions but do not arise from common ancestry. What explains the existence of analogous structures?arrow_forward
- When we consider the major forms of life on Earth in Figure 1.6, what are the characteristics that connect the various types of organisms in a given group and suggest that they share a common ancestor?arrow_forwardWhat are homologous structures? Give an example. Is it necessary that homologous structures always have a common ancestorsarrow_forwardWhat is environmental evolution? How do all living things share a common ancestor? What is random evolution?arrow_forward
- Why we need family and class in taxonomic categories?arrow_forwardCh. 18-1 In the late 1800s, a biologist studying animal embryos coined the phrase "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," meaning that the physical development of an animal embryo (ontogeny) seemed to retrace the changing form of the species during its evolutionary history (phylogeny).Why would embryonic development retrace evolutionary steps?arrow_forwardWhat makes development evolution different from species evolution?arrow_forward
- How does a phylogenetic tree relate to the passing of time?arrow_forwardWhy is it so important for scientists to distinguish between homologous and analogous characteristics before building phylogenetic trees?arrow_forwardSome organisms that appear very closely related on a phylogenetic tree may not actually be closely related. Why is this?arrow_forward
- Biology 2eBiologyISBN:9781947172517Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann ClarkPublisher:OpenStax