4.

Comparativeanatomy:
This is the study of similarities and
differences in structure between different organisms.
Comparing the anatomy of different
organisms shows that there homologous and this
provides evidence for a common ancestor. These are
structures with the same basic plan found in different
organisms but perform different functions. These are
examples of divergent evolution.
Example 1 :
The Pentadactyl limb pattern found in all
vertebrates amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals
have the same basic plan which consists of one bone
in the upper limb, two in the lower limb leading to
five fingers or toes. In bats, limbs are modifies to
wings with extended fingers and skin stretched
between each finger. Wales have within their single
flipper a fully formed pentadactyl limb.
These similarities show that these
vertebrates have a common ancestor and indicate
evolutionary relationships between the groups.
Example 2:Xylem vessels in ferns, conifers and
angiosperms. The presence of vascular
tissues suggests that they all have evolved from a
common ancestor.
5.Biochemistry:
Biochemistry is the study of molecules and
how they react.

Recent technological advances such as DNADNA hybridisation and the analysis of amino acid
sequences increased our ability to compare the
molecular structure of different organisms, which has
led to a modification of evolutionary relationships.
Part A-DNA-DNA Hybridisation:The following
method is used to compare DNA molecules from
different species:
1.

Two strands of DNA (double helix) from each species

are separated using heat.

2.

The single stranded DNA formed from one species is

mixed with the single stranded DNA from another
species.

3.

Upon cooling, the two different strands will join

(anneal) to form a hybrid molecule.

4.

The degree of paring depends on the similarity of the

sequences of the DNA i.e. the more similar the DNA,
the more the pieces will join together to form a
hybrid double strand.

5.

In addition the more similar the strands are the

higher the temperature required to break them apart.