What do we call structures in different species that are similar due to common ancestry?

What do we call structures in different species that are similar due to common ancestry?

• A. Analogous Structures
• B. Homologous Structures
• C. Vestigial Structures
• D. Adaptive Structures

Answer: (B)

Structures in different species that are similar due to common ancestry are referred to as homologous structures. These are anatomical features that may serve different functions in the current species but share a similar underlying structure because they were inherited from a common ancestor. For example, the forelimbs of humans, birds, whales, and bats have different functions—grasping, flying, swimming, and also flying respectively—but they all share a similar bone structure. This similarity indicates that these various species evolved from a common ancestor that had a similar forelimb structure. Understanding homologous structures is important in the study of evolutionary biology because they provide insight into the evolutionary relationships between species. In contrast, analogous structures, such as the wings of birds and insects, serve similar functions but have different evolutionary origins, highlighting the distinction between convergence and divergence in evolution.

Structures in different species that are similar due to common ancestry are referred to as homologous structures. These are anatomical features that may serve different functions in the current species but share a similar underlying structure because they were inherited from a common ancestor.

For example, the forelimbs of humans, birds, whales, and bats have different functions—grasping, flying, swimming, and also flying respectively—but they all share a similar bone structure. This similarity indicates that these various species evolved from a common ancestor that had a similar forelimb structure.

Understanding homologous structures is important in the study of evolutionary biology because they provide insight into the evolutionary relationships between species. In contrast, analogous structures, such as the wings of birds and insects, serve similar functions but have different evolutionary origins, highlighting the distinction between convergence and divergence in evolution.