Evolution Comparative Anatomy

Studying these allows us to compare organisms that are alive today to organisms that are extinct

• Embryology

• Comparative Anatomy

• DNA Sequencing

• Fossils

Answer explanation

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Could birds and whales share a common ancestor

• No, because the species' structures perform different functions.

• Yes, because they both don't live on land.

• No, because the species don't look similar or the same.

• Yes, because the fin/wing of the species are structurally homologous.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Baleen whales have the remains of a hip bone. What does this indicate about Baleen Whales?

• They swim similar to the way land animals crawl.

• A random mutation lead to all Baleen Whales having this structure.

• Baleen Whales may have lived on land at some point.

• Baleen Whales can walk on land.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

A structure that does not currently have any purpose in an organism is a...

• vestigial structure

• random mutation

• homologous structure

• analogous structure

How do scientists use comparitive anatomy?

• It is used as evidence for the evolution of organims, indicating that some organisms came from the same ancestor.

• It is used to study how natural selection works.

• It is used to see why some organisms have different traits than others.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Comparative anatomy is...

• The study of how organisms develop certain traits over time.

• The study of the differences and similarities between the anatomy of different organisms.

• The study of parts of an organism and their functions.

• The study of the differences between the male and female anatomy of the same species.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

If two structures perform the same function but are made up differently, they are...

• from the same species

• vestigial structures

• analogous structures

• homologous structures

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Organisms of different species all have analogous structures that give them the ability to fly. What does this tell us?

• They all share the same common ancestor.

• They all adapted to fly as their shared habitat had an environmental pressure to fly.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Structures that perform the same function but are anatomically different are...

• The same species

• Vestigial structures

• Analogous structures

• Homologous structures

What do homologous structures indicate?

• A common evolutionary ancestry

• Organisms independently evolved similar solutions

• Organisms have not evolved

• A recent mutation in the species

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2