Question

If you observed the bones in a dolphin's flippers and the bones in a human hand, you would see that they are not the same. However, they both come from the same embryonic tissue. What is this an example of?

MCQ Options:
a. Homologous structures
b. Analogous structures
c. Divergent evolution
d. Convergent evolution

Answer 1

The bones in dolphin's flippers and human hands are examples of homologous structures, which share a common embryonic origin and illustrate divergent evolution.

Step-by-step explanation:

Observing the bones in a dolphin's flippers and the bones in a human hand reveals that they have a common origin yet serve different functions. This is an example of homologous structures. Homologous structures originate from the same embryonic tissue and have a common ancestry, but over time they may evolve to serve different functions in different organisms. This contrasts with analogous structures, which perform similar functions but do not originate from a common ancestral structure. The evolution of the structures due to adaptations to specific environments demonstrates the principle of divergent evolution.