Name ________________

Understanding Evolution: Homology and

Analogy
Go to my website for the link or if you’re brave, type the url below.
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/similarity_hs_01
Introduction
1. a) In the image, which pair represents an analogy and which a homology?
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The two women on the left represent homology and the men on the left analogy.

traits inherited by two different organisms from a common ancestor

b) Define homology: ______________________________________________________

similarity of two structures that have different origins.

c) Define analogy: ________________________________________________________

The tale of the limb

Click on the limbs that are not like the others.

a four-footed animal
2. What is a tetrapod? ______________________________________________________

3. What are the six bones found in all tetrapod legs?

Humerus
__________________ Radius
____________________ Carpals
______________________

__________________
Metacarpals Ulna
____________________ Phalanges
______________________

4. Identify these limbs (to what animal do they belong)?

HUMAN

LIZARD BIRD

WHALE
 Inheriting homologies
5. What did the common ancestor of all modern tetrapods look like? (Draw or describe)
It had limbs with one long bone, attached to two other long bones with a branching series of small bones
on the end.

Homologies are everywhere

6. Read the page and then click the link on the green sidebar on the right: “not just
anatomy” - How are a bird and a crocodile homologous? Then close the window and
continue.

The bird and crocodile are homologous because they both descended from an ancient flying
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ancestor or an ancient reptile
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Not all similarity is homology

Analogous
7. Similar structures that evolved independently are called ________________________.

Analogies
8. a) What is the difference between a marsupial and a placental?

A marsupial raises its offspring inside a pouch at the on or under their bodies and a placental
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animal raises/grows its offspring completely inside of a placenta which is inside of them
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essentially a saber toothed big cat

b) What is Smilodon? ______________________________________________________

A genus of the saber toothed big cat

c) What is Thylacosmilus? __________________________________________________

How do analogies evolve?

9. Describe how two unrelated flowers could evolve to have a similar appearance.

They could have both come from the same ancient leaf/flower and over time they each just
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evolved to adapt to the surrounding area they were in.
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Homology or analogy?
analogous
10. Are similarities between sharks and dophins homologous or analogous? ___________

Studying homologies and analogies

11. What is morphology? (click on morphological link)

the branch of biology that deals with the form of living organisms and with relationships between their
________________________________________________________________________
structures
________________________________________________________________________
12. What three criteria are used to determine whether something is a homology or
analogy?
_________________________________
same basic structure same/similar features
________________________________

same development
_________________________________

Using homologies to reconstruct relationships

13. Fill in the blanks of the primate tree.

panda chimpanzee human gorilla

Common Ancestor

Test your understanding

14. Considering all of the evidence, are the "wings" (actually flaps of skin stretched
between the legs) of sugar gliders and flying squirrels homologous or analogous
structures? Explain why you would conclude this.
They are analogous because squirrels and sugar gliders are so similar in appearance they had
________________________________________________________________________
to have come from an ancient ancestor
________________________________________________________________________

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Green Sidebar Link: Click on examples of homology.

15) How are a venus fly trap and a pitcher plant homologous?

they both once had 'normal' leaves and then over time they each adapted to
________________________________________________________________________
what they needed and their surroundings and formed new ways to feed themselves and survive.
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16) How does the bower bird show how inherited behaviors show homology and
common ancestry?
you can see in the similarities between it currently and then its ancestor.
________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

17) What does the Pax-6 gene tell us about humans, flies, and birds?

that they had once potentially come from a similar ancient ancestor many years ago with the
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similar gene.
________________________________________________________________________

18) What is artificial selection?

_______________________________________________
its when humans take specific or the strongest traits of a plant or animal and keep breeding it
so that the end result is a superior plant/animal.
________________________________________________________________________

19) How does studying the development of jaw and ear bones in mammals and lizards
show how they have a common ancestor?

Studying it helps us to further understand how exactly these animals were once related and
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how they may very well change again in the future and or regain some of their ancestors old
traits.
________________________________________________________________________

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