answersLogoWhite

0

Homologous structures are features that originated in a shared ancestor, such as the bones in the limbs of vertebrates. These features may have different functions in modern organisms but have similar underlying structures due to their common ancestry.

User Avatar

AnswerBot

1y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Biology

If you compare organisms with similar characteristics what indicates recent their common ancestor probably is?

The more similar the genes and traits of the organisms are, the more recent their common ancestor is likely to be. The presence of shared genetic sequences or homologous structures can also indicate a more recent common ancestor. Additionally, proximity in the evolutionary tree of life and geographic proximity can also suggest a recent common ancestor.


What is a similar structure that related species inherit from a common ancestor?

Homologous structures are similar structures that related species inherit from a common ancestor. These structures may have different functions in different species but share a similar underlying anatomy, suggesting shared evolutionary origins. Examples include the wing of a bird and the flipper of a whale, both being modified versions of the forelimb structure shared by their common ancestor.


What is it called when body parts inherited from a common ancestor are no longer needed?

you must be talking about a vestigial structure. Like our vestigial "tail".


What is the difference between shared derived characters and shared ancestral characters in evolutionary biology?

Shared derived characters are traits that are shared by a group of organisms and are unique to that group, indicating a common ancestor. Shared ancestral characters are traits that are shared by a group of organisms but are not unique to that group, as they are inherited from a common ancestor of a larger group.


What common ancestor do two or more descendants share?

The common ancestor that two or more descendants share is a shared ancestor from whom they both or all descend.

Related Questions

These are physical features shared by organisms with common ancestry they may have the same structure but different functions developmentally mature organisms?

These physical features are known as homologous structures. They suggest a common evolutionary history among organisms and may have originated from the same structure in a shared ancestor. Despite potentially serving different functions in mature organisms, their structural similarity points to a shared genetic relationship.


If you compare organisms with similar characteristics what indicates recent their common ancestor probably is?

The more similar the genes and traits of the organisms are, the more recent their common ancestor is likely to be. The presence of shared genetic sequences or homologous structures can also indicate a more recent common ancestor. Additionally, proximity in the evolutionary tree of life and geographic proximity can also suggest a recent common ancestor.


What is a similar structure that related species inherit from a common ancestor?

Homologous structures are similar structures that related species inherit from a common ancestor. These structures may have different functions in different species but share a similar underlying anatomy, suggesting shared evolutionary origins. Examples include the wing of a bird and the flipper of a whale, both being modified versions of the forelimb structure shared by their common ancestor.


What is the type of trait shared with a common ancestor?

A trait shared with a common ancestor is called an inherited or ancestral trait.


What did Charles Darwin observe about finches on the galapagos islands?

That the finches were similar to the ones on the mainland, but had adapted to the island environment.


What are the character states shared by the ancestor or outgroup of a clade called?

Character states shared by the ancestor or outgroup of a clade are referred to as plesiomorphies. These are ancestral traits that were present in the common ancestor of a group but are not unique to the members of the clade.


Why two or more taxa might have shared derived traits?

Two or more taxa may have shared derived traits due to a common evolutionary history, where the traits were inherited from a common ancestor. This is known as homology. Alternatively, shared derived traits may also arise independently in different lineages due to convergent evolution, where similar environmental pressures result in similar adaptations.


The bones in the wing of a bat are similar to the bones in the flipper of a whale. This information suggest that bats and whales have similar?

The similarity in bone structure between the wing of a bat and the flipper of a whale suggests that bats and whales share a common evolutionary ancestor. This phenomenon is known as homology, where different species exhibit similar anatomical features due to descent from a shared ancestor, despite having evolved in different environments and for different functions. It highlights the concept of convergent evolution, where unrelated species develop similar traits as adaptations to their environments.


How do analogous structures and homologous structures differ?

Homologous features of animals are a lot more recent in contrast to evolution, where as analogous dates far back. Homologous features are similar in structure, but perform different functions, such as the human hands and dolphin flippers, which makes room to allow recent evolution comparisons while analogous consists of wings of a bee and a bird, which are completely different. When trying to determine evolutionary relationship between two species, biologists concentrate on homologous features, as analogous features would be considered useless in this case.


What is a homologous structure that is shared by all organisms in a group?

A homologous structure that is shared by all organisms in a group is a characteristic that has evolved from a common ancestor. For example, the forelimbs of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians exhibit similar bone structures despite serving different functions, indicating their evolutionary relationship. These shared anatomical features provide evidence for common ancestry and help classify organisms within the same evolutionary lineage.


Why two groups of organisms with similar characteristics?

Two groups of organisms may exhibit similar characteristics due to convergent evolution, where unrelated species evolve similar traits as adaptations to similar environments or ecological niches. This can occur despite their different evolutionary lineages, highlighting how similar selective pressures can lead to analogous features. Additionally, shared ancestry can result in homologous traits, where related organisms possess similar characteristics due to inherited genes from a common ancestor.


What is it called when body parts inherited from a common ancestor are no longer needed?

you must be talking about a vestigial structure. Like our vestigial "tail".