Question

Describe how comparing early development can help scientists learn about the relatedness of species. give an example!

Answer 1

Comparing early development in species helps to understand their relatedness by identifying homologous structures stemming from common ancestry. Embryonic similarities such as gill slits that appear in all vertebrates demonstrate shared evolutionary paths. These comparisons aid in the construction of phylogenetic trees to visualize evolutionary relationships.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Species Relatedness Through Early Development

Comparing the early development of different species can reveal their evolutionary relationships. Scientists look for homologous structures, which are features that are similar due to shared ancestry. An example of this is the presence of gill slits in the embryos of all vertebrates, including humans, which indicates a common ancestral origin. Moreover, scientists use embryology, the study of an organism's development from embryo to adult, to find these connections. The development patterns can help distinguish between homologies and analogies, the latter being similarities due to convergent evolution rather than common ancestry.

For instance, while bats, birds, and insects all have evolved wings for flight, the embryonic origin and structural makeup of these wings differ significantly. Birds and bats have homologous structures in their wings suggesting a closer evolutionary relationship, whereas insect wings are analogous and do not imply close relatedness. Such comparisons enable researchers to construct phylogenetic trees, illustrating the evolutionary pathways of different species.

Answer 2

Talking of early development we are referring to the embryonic stage of development. The closer similarity of their embryos shows a relationship between the organisms. For example an adult chimpanzee and an adult human being look so different and on the other hand their embryos look so much alike.