analogous structure definition
Analogous structures are similar or resembling in certain respects, e.g. in function or in appearance but not in evolutionary origin or developmental origin. An example is wings of a butterfly and wings of a hummingbird are analogous. Word origin: Greek analogos análogos. Proportionate: 1  compare. 2  homologous.  heterologous Homology is a relationship defined between structures or DNA derived from a common ancestor. Homologous traits of organisms are therefore explained by descent from a common ancestor. Please contribute to this project, if you have more information about this term feel free to edit this page. This page was last modified on 4 March 2011, at 10:45.This page has been accessed 468,273 times. What links here | Related changes | Permanent link. The word homology, coined in about 1656, derives from the Greek ὁμόλογος homologos from ὁμός homos same and λόγος logos relation. In biology, two things are homologous if they bear the same relationship to one another, such as a certain bone in various forms of the hand. In the context of biology, homology is the existence of shared ancestry between a pair of structures, or genes, in different species. A common example of homologous structures in evolutionary biology are the wings of bats and the arms of primates. Evolutionary theory explains the existence of homologous structures adapted to different purposes as the result of descent with modification from a common ancestor. Definition. adjective. (evolutionary biology) Corresponding in function but not in evolutionary origin. Supplement. Analogous structures are similar or resembling in certain respects, e.g. in function or in appearance but not in evolutionary origin or developmental origin. An example is wings of a butterfly and wings of a hummingbird are analogous. Word origin: Greek analogos análogos. Proportionate: compare Reload the page to try again! Press Cmd-0 to reset your zoom. Press Ctrl-0 to reset your zoom. It looks like your browser might be zoomed in or out. Your browser needs to be zoomed to a normal size to record audio. Body part in different species that is similar in function but not in structure that evolved in response to a similar environmental challenge. Analogous structures pertain to the various structures in different species having the same appearance, structure or function but have evolved separately, thus do not share common ancestor. Examples of analogous structures include: 1  wings of insects and birds used for flying. 2  jointed legs of insects and vertebrates used for locomotion. 3  fins of fish and flippers of whales (mammals). The wings of pterosaurs (1), bats (2) and birds (3) are analogous as wings, but homologous as forelimbs. Evolutionary ancestry means that structures evolved from some structure in a common ancestor; for example, the wings of bats and the arms of primates are homologous in this sense.
It pertains to the various structures in different species having the same appearance, structure or function but have evolved separately.