AP BIOLOGY

EVOLUTION

EVOLUTION OF A POPULATION

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
____ characters are similar characteristics that have evolved separately in two unrelated organisms.
A
analogous
B
homologous
C
cladistic
D
phylogenic
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Convergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar features in species of different periods or epochs in time. Convergent evolution creates analogous structures that have similar form or function but were not present in the last common ancestor of those groups.

Detailed explanation-2: -Analogous structures are structures that are similar in unrelated organisms. The structures are similar because they evolved to do the same job, not because they were inherited from a common ancestor. For example, the wings of bats and birds, shown in Figure below, look similar on the outside.

Detailed explanation-3: -When similar characteristics occur because of environmental constraints and not due to a close evolutionary relationship, it is called an analogy or homoplasy. For example, insects use wings to fly like bats and birds, but the wing structure and embryonic origin is completely different.

Detailed explanation-4: -Convergent evolution is a kind of evolution wherein organisms evolve structures that have similar (analogous) structures or functions in spite of their evolutionary ancestors being very dissimilar or unrelated.

Detailed explanation-5: -Analogous structures are features of different species that are similar in function but not necessarily in structure and which do not derive from a common ancestral feature (compare to homologous structures) and which evolved in response to a similar environmental challenge.

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