Name _ Henry Price _ Period 6 _

Cait, Cruz, Henry, Catherine (Group 2) Date 2/17/2021 _

LAB _ _. ANATOMICAL EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION

In our studies of the anatomy and development of animals we have discovered that many living
creatures that look quite different on the surface have similarities underneath their skin that
suggest that they are related to each other. This is evidence that living creatures have evolved,
or gradually changed over time. In this lab, you will learn about homologous, analogous, and
vestigial structures and their value as evidence for evolution.

INSTRUCTIONS

A. HOMOLOGOUS STRUCTURES
There are many examples of body structures that are formed in similar ways during embryonic
development and that share similar patterns of bone structure, even though they take on
different forms and perform somewhat different functions. These structures are called
homologous structures. Homo- means same, and -logous means information, so homologous
means “same information”. Homologous structures mean that the animals share a relatively
recent common ancestor.

1. Carefully examine the drawings of forelimb skeletons shown in Figure 1 on the next page.
Look for similarities in the bones amongst the various animals.

2. Color in the human arm first. Color the bones of the arm (the humerus, ulna, and radius)
blue. Color the bones of the hand (the carpal, metacarpals, and phalanges) yellow.

3. Color the corresponding bones in each of the other animals the same color as the human
bones.

4. Observe each of the skeletons again, and describe the function of each limb in the table
below:

Animal Function

human Arm; to pick up and move things

whale Fin; to swim

cat Paws; to cushion landings

bat Wings; to fly

bird Feet/talons; to catch and pick up prey

crocodile Legs; to swim and walk

5. Answer the Summary Questions.

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Name _ _ Regents Biology

Figure 1.
Humerus
Humerus
Radius

Ulna
Carpal

Metacarpal

Ulna
Radius

Carpal

Metacarpal

Phalanges
Phalanges

Ulna
Humerus Radius
Humerus
Carpal
Metacarpal
Humerus
Ulna
Radius

Ulna
Radius
Carpal
Metacarpal Phalanges

Carpal
Metacarpal

Phalanges
Phalanges

2 of 6
Developed by Kim B. Foglia • www.ExploreBiology.com • ©2008
B. ANALOGOUS STRUCTURES
There are also many examples of body structures in animals that are very similar in function
and superficially similar in form and but develop very different and have very different internal
structures and embryonic development. These structures are called analogous structures.
Analogous structures mean that the animals do not share a recent common ancestor.

1. Examine the butterfly wing and the bird wing shown in Figure 2.

2. Look for any similar bone structure.

3. Answer the Summary Questions.

Figure 2.

B. VESTIGIAL STRUCTURES
There are also many examples of body structures in animals that show gradual changes over
time. In some cases, these changes have reduced or removed the function of some body parts
and organs. These reduced or lost structures are called vestigial structures. The wings of
penguins and the leg bones of snakes are examples of this phenomenon.

1. Observe the drawings of the cavefish and the minnow shown in Figure 3. The fish are
related to each other but the cave fish is blind and only has the remnants of an eye.

2. Answer the Summary Questions.

 SUMMARY QUESTIONS

HOMOLOGOUS STRUCTURES

1. Are the functions of the limbs of each of the animals illustrated the same or different?

Different.

2. Are the bones of the limbs arranged in a similar or in a very different way in each animal?

These bones are arranged similarly.

3. Does the similarity in bone structure suggest a common ancestry amongst these animals?

Yes, because the similar structures most likely signal common ancestry.

4. Offer a possible evolutionary explanation for how the skeletons can be similar but the
functions very different in each of the animals.

Some organisms need to mutate to adapt to their environments, and some do not.
The limbs are structured so that they do not have to change structure to change
function.

ANALOGOUS STRUCTURES

5. What function do the butterfly and bird wings share?

They share a function for flying.

6. In what way do these structures differ?

The butterfly’s wings are thin and without bone, while the bird’s wings are more
structured because they have bones.

7. Explain why these are considered analogous structures and not homologous structures.

Homologous structures are when more than one organism has the same
structure but different purpose. That is not the case in this example, where they
have the same purpose but different internal structure.
VESTIGIAL STRUCTURES

8. Explain why eyesight is not an important adaptation to life in a deep sea cave.

There is no use of eyesight, because there is no light in a deep sea cave.

9. Does the appearance of the cavefish and the minnow suggest a common ancestry? Why?

Yes, because the fins are similar in shape, and they are in the same place on each
animal.

10. Below is a list of human vestigial structures. Suggest a possible function for each structure
and explain why it is considered vestigial.

Structure Probable Function Why Vestigial?

To digest leaves As we humans have evolved, we have

appendix lost the need to digest leaves.

To balance in trees Some early primates have evolved into

coccyx (tail bone) humans, which have learned to walk,
taking away the need for a tail.

muscle that move Sound localization We have evolved to be able to position

our heads to find the direction of a
ears
sound, removing the need for this
muscle.

muscles that make To appear larger and scarier among The natural threats to humans have
threats mostly gone away, so there is no need
hair stand up
for this muscle.

To be able to climb in trees and balance Humans no longer need to climb trees,
little toe while walking. and have evolved to become more
balanced while walking.

To fill in extra space in the mouth The human brain has grown, so there is
wisdom teeth not enough space for these extra molars.
OVERVIEW QUESTIONS

11. Explain how homologous structures are evidence of a common ancestor.

The common ancestor had a similar structure to all the current animals, then it
mutated enough to create new, different species without the structure changing
much.

12. Explain the evolutionary relationship between the fin of a fish and the flipper of whale.

This is an example of analogous structures, because they share the same

function while having very different structures.

13. List another structure (not listed in this lab) that you think is vestigial and explain why.

I think nipples on human males are vestigial because I cannot think of any
possible use for them.