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Patterns Homologies and analogies
The family tree
Since a phylogenetic tree is a hypothesis about
Understanding
evolutionary relationships, we want to use characters Read more about the
phylogenies
that are reliable indicators of common ancestry to build criteria used in
Trees, not ladders that tree. We use homologous characters — characters recognizing homologies,
in different organisms that are similar because they how phylogenies are
Building the tree
constructed using
were inherited from a common ancestor that also had
parsimony, and how
Homologies and that character. An example of homologous characters is phylogenies can be
analogies the four limbs of tetrapods. Birds, bats, mice, and used to understand
crocodiles all have four limbs. Sharks and bony fish do history.
Using the tree for not. The ancestor of tetrapods evolved four limbs, and
classification its descendents have inherited that feature — so the
Adding time to presence of four limbs is a homology.
the tree
Not all characters are homologies. For example, birds
How we know and bats both have wings, while mice and crocodiles do Learn more about
what happened phylogenetic
not. Does that mean that birds and bats are more closely related to one another than to
when classification in context:
mice and crocodiles? No. When we examine bird wings and bat wings closely, we see
Using trees to
Important events that there are some major differences. understand plants:
in the history of
The work of Chelsea
life
Specht, a research
Mechanisms profile.
Microevolution The new shrew that's
not, a news brief
Speciation with discussion
questions.
Macroevolution
The big issues
Bat wings consist of flaps of skin stretched between the bones of the fingers and arm.
Bird wings consist of feathers extending all along the arm. These structural
dissimilarities suggest that bird wings and bat wings were not inherited from a common Teach your students
ancestor with wings. This idea is illustrated by the phylogeny below, which is based on a about homologies and
large number of other characters. analogies:
Bird and bat wings are analogous — that is, they have Similarities and
differences:
separate evolutionary origins, but are superficially
Understanding
similar because they have both experienced natural homology and
selection that shaped them to play a key role in flight. analogy, a web
Analogies are the result of convergent evolution. activity for grades
6-8.
Interestingly, though bird and bat wings are analogous
Similarities and
as wings, as forelimbs they are homologous. Birds and
differences:
bats did not inherit wings from a common ancestor Understanding
with wings, but they did inherit forelimbs from a homology and
Download the two graphics above
from the Image library. common ancestor with forelimbs. analogy, a web
activity for grades
9-12.
Find additional lessons,
activities, videos, and
Building the tree Using the tree for articles that focus on
classification homologies.
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