Question

The bones of forelimbs of whale, bat, cheetah and man are similar in
structure, because:
a. one organism has given rise to another
b. they share a common ancestor
c. they perform the same function
d. the have biochemical similarities


NCERT Class XII
Biology - Main Course Book

Chapter 7. Evolution

Answer 1

b. they share a common ancestor is the correct option.

Answer 2

Answer b. they share a common ancestor

Homology refers to the evolutionary phenomena in which organisms exhibit similarity in their structure and are said to belong to the same origin or having the common ancestry but they exhibit difference in their function.

The bones of the forelimbs of whale, bat, cheetah and man are similar in structure this indicates the fact that these structures are homologous and their functions are different that is bones in forelimbs of whales helps them to flip and swim in water, in bats helps them to fly, in cheetah and humans help them to move and feed, write respectively.