Exploring Vestigial, Homologous, and Analogous Structures

What is the purpose of vestigial structures?

• They are critical for survival.

• They are newly evolved structures.

• They are remnants of structures that had a function in ancestors.

• They perform essential functions in the body.

Which of the following is a vestigial structure in humans?

• Liver

• Kidney

• Appendix

• Heart

Why do whales have leg bones?

• For swimming

• For walking on the seabed

• As vestigial remnants from legged ancestors

• For catching prey

Why do manatees have leg bones?

• For walking underwater

• For digging in the seabed

• For balance in water

• As a vestigial trait from legged ancestors

What does the presence of similar limb structures in different animals suggest?

• Random occurrence

• Common ancestry

• Result of mutation

• Environmental adaptation

Which structure is an example of a homologous structure?

• Bird wings and butterfly wings

• Human arm and whale fin

• Shark fin and dolphin fin

• Bat wings and bird wings

What is the significance of homologous structures in evolutionary biology?

• They indicate unrelated species.

• They have no evolutionary significance.

• They suggest a common ancestor.

• They are a result of convergent evolution.

What is convergent evolution?

• Evolution of different structures for the same function

• Evolution of similar structures for the same function in different species

• Evolution towards increasing complexity

• Evolution of similar structures for different functions

Which of the following is an example of an analogous structure?

• The wings of a bird and a bat

• The fins of a shark and a dolphin

• The limbs of a crocodile and a whale

• The tails of a monkey and a cat

Which of the following best describes the wings of birds and bats?

• Unrelated structures with different functions

• Identical structures with identical functions

• Homologous structures due to common ancestry

• Analogous structures due to convergent evolution