Homologous structures are structures that share the same or similar physical structure but serve as different functions.
For example:
A whales fin, a human arm and a bats wing.
They all have a similar structure, but completely different roles.
"Homologous structures." World of Anatomy and Physiology. Gale, 2007. Gale Science In Context. Web. 17 Apr. 2011.
Embryology:
"Embryology is the study of the development of organisms." For example: A human and a pig have the same (close to identical) embryos. So because of this relation, humans are somehow related to pigs in our ancestral line (humans and pigs have a shared ancestry).
"Embryology." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 4th ed. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Gale Science In Context. Web. 17 Apr. 2011.
Vestigial Features:
An organ or a structure is "considered" vestigial if it is not used anymore to the extent it was used in the past. That organism has evolved, and the new evolved species still carries their vestigial structure but does not use it.
Example:
Whales have hipbones. This shows that in earlier generations, whales had legs. But because they do not need it anymore, they now do not have them and only contain hip bones.
Example:
Humans still have an appendix. Although scientists are not sure as to what we used our appendix for in the past (it is guessed we used our appendix to digest raw meat) it is proven that our appendix is of no use to humans now.
"However, evolution tends to eliminate useless organs, for every structure requires energy to grow, sustain, and transport."
"Vestigial structures." World of Anatomy and Physiology. Gale, 2007. Gale Science In Context. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.
Biochemistry:
"Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry of living organisms." It it a new concept, but its principles have been used by humans in the past.
Example:
- Yeast in bread
- fermenting wine
Eventually important advances in Biology were discovered through the study of Biochemistry. Some of these advances are DNA and the laws of genetics. These were all from what the main emphasis of what defines the study of Biochemistry... amino acids.
Less similar overall = less similar amino acids.
- Exploring areas such as Artificial Selection: more desirable traits. If humans can change traits, so can the environment.
Example:
Humans have close to equal numbers of amino acids compared to monkeys. So this must mean that we may have come from a common ancestor.
"Biochemistry." World of Chemistry. Gale, 2008. Gale Science In Context. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.
"Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry of living organisms." It it a new concept, but its principles have been used by humans in the past.
Example:
- Yeast in bread
- fermenting wine
Eventually important advances in Biology were discovered through the study of Biochemistry. Some of these advances are DNA and the laws of genetics. These were all from what the main emphasis of what defines the study of Biochemistry... amino acids.
Less similar overall = less similar amino acids.
- Exploring areas such as Artificial Selection: more desirable traits. If humans can change traits, so can the environment.
Example:
Humans have close to equal numbers of amino acids compared to monkeys. So this must mean that we may have come from a common ancestor.
"Biochemistry." World of Chemistry. Gale, 2008. Gale Science In Context. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.
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